By Engr. Christsam Joy S. Jaspe-Santander

Engr. Christsam Joy S. Jaspe-Santander (center), faculty member of the Chemical Engineering Department, receives her certificate after being awarded Best in Oral Presentation at PlastiCon 2025 held at the New MSI Building (MBRIS), Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Engr. Christsam Joy S. Jaspe-Santander, a faculty member of the Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering at Central Philippine University and a doctoral student at the University of San Carlos, was awarded Best in Oral Presentation at the Plastic Conference (PlastiCon 2025), held on July 24–25 at the New MSI Building (MBRIS), Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

With the theme “Knowledge to Action: Science-Based Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” PlastiCon 2025 brought together environmental scientists, engineers, policymakers, and advocates to present groundbreaking research and practical solutions to one of the country’s most pressing marine issues.

Engr. Jaspe-Santander’s award-winning presentation, “Highways and Hotspots: Tracking Macroplastic Pathways and Accumulation Zones in Manila Bay,” highlighted a multi-faceted investigation into how macroplastic debris behaves once it enters Manila Bay—particularly under the influence of coastal reclamation and seasonal changes.

The study integrated GPS tracker simulations, AI-powered macroplastic quantification, and hydrodynamic modeling to reveal that newly reclaimed areas along the bay are emerging as unintended accumulation hotspots for plastic debris. These findings emphasize the urgent need to align marine litter interventions with real-time, science-based evidence.

“The volume of plastic entering Manila Bay is not slowing down—and yet we still lack a full understanding of where it goes. This research helps bridge that gap,” Engr. Jaspe-Santander said.

Her research was co-authored by Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda from the Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman; Dr. Paul Samuel P. Ignacio from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, UP Baguio; Mr. Lance Oliver C. Lichnachan from the Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman; and Dr. Ian Dominic F. Tabañag from DOST-PCIEERD.

Engr. Jaspe-Santander shares the Best Oral Presenter Award with Mr. Ronan Baculi, whose presentation, titled “Non-Specific Primo-Colonization Followed by Rapid Community Shift of Marine Bacterial Biofilms on Plastics and Inert Substrates,” examined how bacterial biofilms form and evolve on plastic surfaces in marine environments. His co-authors include Mr. Brian William Hingpit, Ms. Mei Lin Neo, and Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda.

The recognition of both presenters reflects the growing importance of cross-disciplinary, science-based approaches to understanding and managing plastic pollution in Philippine waters.

For inquiries or collaborations, Engr. Jaspe-Santander may be reached at cjjsantander@cpu.edu.ph.