MANILA — The island province of Bohol is stepping up its fight against environmental degradation by adopting a citizen science mobile app to map and monitor plastic pollution.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) said it partnered with the Provincial Government of Bohol and Bohol Island State University (BISU) on July 31, to deploy the "PlastiZen Basura Patroller" app across the province.
The measure aims to generate community-driven data to inform local conservation and waste management strategies.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology and co-implemented by UP Baguio, the application was recently launched on Google Play. It allows users to actively participate in environmental monitoring through geotagged photo submissions. Instructions emphasize simplicity: "Open the app," "Snap a photo of the litter," and "Submit anonymously".
By logging the location and concentration of litter, the app provides real-time data to local governments and researchers. Submissions are integrated into the PlastiCount Pilipinas portal—an open-source tracker launched in 2022 that uses an artificial intelligence-assisted repository to analyze both microplastic and macroplastic pollution trends.
Bohol, officially recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark for its geological heritage, will institutionalize the tool through its Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO). Officials said geotagging will optimize resource allocation, target interventions, and prevent further waste leakage into the province's sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems.
Under the agreement, UP Diliman will lead the technology transfer by designing capacity-building programs, providing technical guidance, and managing data storage. Meanwhile, the BPEMO and BISU will collaborate on developing communication materials and adopting policy recommendations derived from the data.
The PlastiZen project supports the Philippines' National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter, which pursues the goal of achieving "Zero Waste to Philippine Waters by 2040". Organizers emphasized that empowering citizens to report pollution is a vital step toward efficient, evidence-based environmental governance.