Pinoy youth urged to help curb plastic pollution
SENATE President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda called on all Filipino youth for their continued cooperation in addressing the alarming “plastic crisis” the nation is experiencing.
This appeal comes after Legarda expressed concern over the frequent inclusion of the Philippines in the list of the highest plastic-polluting countries across the globe over the past years.
“Plastics, especially single-use plastics, are a concern for us Filipinos. Not only do we have a massive plastic consumption problem but also a massive pollution problem due to the amount of mismanaged plastic waste that leaks into our open environment,” Legarda said
With the magnitude of the country’s plastic situation, Legarda attributed these problems to the decades-use of ‘sachet and tingi economy’, as well as the throw-away culture of plastic labo and sando bags, which according to her contributed immensely to the mess.
The four-term senator, as a staunch advocate for the environment, reiterated that laws and regulations must be enforced in order to address the growing number of hazards of these problems to the health and environment.
Among these include the Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which she authored and principally sponsored in 2001. Since then, it was considered as one of the landmark environmental laws in the country as this strived to manage all solid waste down to the barangay levels. It required waste segregation, provided guidelines on waste collection and disposal, among others.
Since it was passed two decades ago, the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) issued Resolution No. 1428, that categorized various plastics like softdrink straws and coffee stirrers, under the list of non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAP).
However, Legarda said that the guidelines indicated in the resolution, including specifications and phase-out period of the said products, are yet to be issued.
“The NEAP list could have stymied the rise of plastic consumption and waste and could have also given rise to more sustainable alternative products and systems earlier on. This would have prepared us to better manage our plastic waste during the pandemic, which has drastically increased our consumption of single-use plastics due to online shopping and deliveries,” she conveyed.
Legarda also pushed for the passage of the Senate Bill. No. 245 or the Single-Use Plastics Regulation and Management Act.
It aims to regulate the manufacturing, importation and use of single-used products by providing penalties and incentives for industries and consumers, as well as support the development and use of more eco-friendly products and packaging.
