CIVIL society groups have urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to include environmental concerns in its first-ever State of the Nation (SONA), particularly the strategies to address plastic pollution.

The EcoWaste Coalition, Mother Earth Foundation, Greenpeace Philippines, Oceana Philippines, Consumer Rights for Safe Food (CRSF), and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) made the appeal saying that policies and strategies that will advance climate action and justice, zero waste, food security, and human and ecological health must also be part of the President’s SONA.

Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator, expressed optimism that the Chief Executive will use the occasion to make public his key policies and strategies to address plastic pollution during his first year in office.

Lucero noted the President’s “we will clean up” statement in his inaugural speech last June 30.

“Stopping plastic pollution at source, banning single-use plastics, listing non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging for phase-out, ratifying the Basel Convention Ban Amendment on hazardous waste exports, and declaring government’s commitment to zero waste, non-toxic circular economy are some of the priorities that we would like him to set his sight on,” Lucero said.

On the other hand, Mother Earth Foundation Chairman Sonia Mendoza emphasized that implementing Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, should be a top priority for the government to help solve the country’s ballooning solid waste problem.

“Keeping organics out of landfills (KOOL) is a very effective measure to mitigate climate change. Organic waste in the landfill creates anthropogenic methane, which is a very powerful greenhouse gas causing global warming and climate change,” Mendoza said.

The Greenpeace Philippines, meanwhile, believed that the government must institute climate action as the central policy of the state and must protect people and the climate based on climate justice. Climate action must also be at the heart of the country’s economic recovery plan.

“Marcos Jr. must heed the call of Filipino communities who are championing climate justice and people’s welfare before corporate interests, confront big polluters and speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” said Lea Guerrero, Country Director, Greenpeace Philippines.

For her part, Ocean defender Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President of Oceana Philippines, welcomed the President’s declaration of food security and addressed climate change as a priority program of his administration.

“These are intertwined. Sadly, our country is way behind on many fronts, including the full implementation of the amended Fisheries Code and the provisions that would allow us to effectively address

We challenge the new administration to finally implement all the provisions of the amended fisheries code of the Philippines to effectively address IUU Fishing and prioritize food security and climate resiliency in the country,” Ramos added.

Anti-tobacco advocates also appealed for presidential support for their advocacy, specifically urging him to reject the controversial Vape Bill, a task left undone by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“We strongly urge President Marcos, Jr. to defend every Filipino’s right to clean air as enshrined in the Clean Air Act and the highest attainable standard of health by supporting and continuing the smoke-free vision of his predecessor,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, immediate past President of the Philippine College of Physicians and FCAP Executive Director.