International marine conservation organization Oceana said the ban on single-use plastic has become more widespread with government agencies taking the lead in the move.
The group said the issuance of a memorandum circular last February banning single-use plastics in offices and other establishments within the premises of the Department of Health, Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government have helped in further pushing such practice.
“We congratulate the leaders of these government agencies for making this huge stride in addressing the plastic crisis. Other government offices should follow this lead to help our environment recover from the mounting problem of plastic waste,” said Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, Oceana vice president, in a statement.
“Banning single-use plastics in the operations of these agencies will have significant impact not only in reducing plastic pollution but also in instilling behavioral change among their officials, staff and the general public,” Ramos said.
Oceana said circulars issued by the agencies were based on the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the National Solid Waste Management Commission Resolution No. 1363, Series of 2020, which directs the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to prepare and implement the ban on single-use plastics in all national government agencies, local government units and all other government-controlled offices.
The group said a World Bank 2021 report showed Filipinos’ consumption of plastic sachets has reached at least 163 million pieces daily.
The country generates 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually with about 20 percent polluting the ocean, Oceana added.
“We hope this initiative will lead to the same policy that will ban single-use plastics in all local government offices, considering that many of these have passed their own ordinances banning single use plastics in their towns,” Ramos said.
Oceana noted the need for DENR to strictly implement policies such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act that was passed in 2001 which requires the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to submit an annual list of non-environmentally sound products and packaging materials.
Ramos said it is long overdue for NSWMC to submit yearly a list that will make it illegal to produce, use and trade items declared as non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging.
“With such a list, production of billions of single-use plastics, now the scourge of our oceans and marine creatures, would have halted two decades ago and avoided the irreversible damage to our marine and land resources and the health of our people,” Ramos added.
