A Philippine charity that began with five women clearing a vacant lot in Manila in 1998 has been named a finalist for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, the environmental award founded by Prince William, for its work preventing plastic and organic waste from reaching landfills, waterways and the ocean.
The Philippines produces more ocean plastic than any other country on earth, and its rivers continue to choke under thick layers of plastic. The Pasig, which runs through Manila, is among the most polluted waterways in the world and every storm season brings images of plastic washing over shorelines and clogging flooded streets across the capital.
