Factors in enhancing environmental governance for marine plastic litter abatement in Manila, the Philippines: A combined structural equation modeling and DPSIR framework.

This empirical study examines the factors enhancing environmental governance for marine plastic litter abatement in Manila, the Philippines. We use a combined covariance-based hybrid structural equation modeling (SEM) and DPSIR framework, with data collected via an online survey from 456 barangays in Manila, the Philippines. The survey was processed and analyzed using a combined model, validated through interviews and focused group discussions. With Higher-Order Model good internal consistency (0.917) and achieved measures of CFI (0.992), RMSEA (0.036), and SRMR (0.019), the findings revealed that environmental governance (COVID-19 waste), community participation, socio-economic factors, and solution measures have positively affected marine plastic litter (MPL) abatement. Notwithstanding, environmental governance (SWM policies and guidelines) has a negative impact on MPL abatement. There is, however, no link between waste infrastructure and MPL abatement. The findings provide significant perspectives in Manila to enhance environmental governance for MPL abatement. This paper presents policy-actions implications drawn from DPSIR-SEM.

Practical Challenges and Opportunities for Marine Plastic Litter Reduction in Manila: A Structural Equation Modeling

Land-based plastic pollution has increased to the level of an epidemic due to improper plastic waste management, attributed to plastic waste flux into the marine environment. The extant marine plastic litter (MPL) literature focuses primarily on the monitoring and assessment of the problem, but it fails to acknowledge the link between the challenges and opportunities for MPL reduction. The study aimed to examine the practical challenges and opportunities influencing the reduction of marine plastic litter in Manila in the Philippines. Data collected through an online survey from 426 barangays were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and were then validated using interviews and focused group discussions. Good internal consistency (0.917) and convergent and discriminant validity were achieved. The empirical study has established structural model fit measures of RMSEA (0.021), SRMR (0.015), CFI (0.999), and TLI (0.994), with a good parsimonious fit of the chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio of 1.190. The findings revealed that environmental governance regarding waste management policies and guidelines, COVID-19 regulations for waste management, community participation, and socio-economic activities have positively affected marine plastic litter leakage and solution measures. Environmental governance significantly and partially mediates the effects of, e.g., COVID-19-related waste and socio-economic activities on MPL leakage. However, there is no relationship between the waste management infrastructure and environmental governance. The findings shed light on how to enhance environmental governance to reduce marine plastic litter and address Manila's practical challenges.