23 Abril 2024, Martes
more birthdays to come JO GOD-SAVES MONTOJO LOPEZ
welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay
supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024
supports DENR Earth Day, Every Day campaign
Ph loses $890 M annually to recyclable plastic dumping
By J.Lo
“However, about 20 percent of this ends up in our oceans…over and above our organic waste, plastic for our market needs, food wrapping and packaging for our consumers all make up 61,000 metric tons of solid waste we produce daily,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said Philippines loses $890 million a year because of indiscriminate dumping of recyclable plastic instead of repurposing it.
In her speech during celebration of Earth Day, Loyzaga said country produces around 2.7 million tons of plastic waste each year, with most of it ending in landfills, dumpsites, rivers and water supply systems.
This year’s Earth Day is urgent call to face deadly challenge against plastic, she added.
Loyzaga pointed out that many are unaware plastics have traditionally been made from oil, natural gas, or coal, very fossil fuel sources that have driven climate change.
“On daily basis, we consume plastics in fish caught in the seas, through substandard water bottles we use and in very air we breathe…microplastics have been found in raindrops and are being studied for their impact on clouds and climate change,” she added.
To address the issue, Loyzaga said government passed Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or EPR Law, shifted burden of collecting used plastic from local governments to producers and manufacturers.
“Over 800 large-scale companies have registered and committed to reducing plastic use through substitution and development of sustainable packaging solutions and collection, treatment and recycling initiatives…they have also committed to education and raising awareness of environmental impact of plastic pollution,” Loyzaga noted.
She stressed that government and corporations cannot do it alone, adding that transformation toward plastics-free world begins at home.
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“Together, we can win this battle of planet vs. plastics. ..every step we take counts, and we will need to work as one… our choice to act today or let our plastic waste determine our tomorrow… Earth Day must be every day. ..we will fight to win war of Planet vs. Plastics…we must embrace environment for life,” she added.
Meanwhile, environmental group Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) asked President Marcos to declare national climate emergency amid impact of El Niño in the country.
At press conference, CEED executive director Gerry Arances said damage El Niño brought to agriculture sector has reached almost P4 billion, and it could still get worse in the next days.
“Today, together with other organizations, we urge President Marcos to declare national climate emergency as effect of El Niño that we are currently experiencing is expected to exacerbate, we are experiencing different kind of El Niño as in the past weeks heat index already reached almost 50 degrees Celsius… damage to agriculture already reached billions, as well as in fish catch…we expect more problems in the next weeks and months,” Arances said, adding that government’s preparations to minimize impact of phenomenon were inadequate.
Arances said Marcos should acknowledge that current El Niño is different from previous drought. “Extraordinary measures are needed…government officials are still treating climate change as business as usual…for us, we are warning that we should expect it to exacerbate.”
He said declaration of national climate emergency is necessary for national survival.
City government of Pasig launched Batang Bantay Kalikasan or BBK project, aims to empower youth in campaign for protection of environment, and did tree-planting activity in observance of this year’s Earth Day.
BBK officers, led by Samantha Nicole Salingay of De Castro Elementary School, from 21 public schools in Pasig took their oath during flag-raising ceremony of the employees and officials of the city.
City government handed over BBK badge to its officers to symbolize recognition of city government to the group.
It also encouraged all private companies in the city to join search for “Most Sustainable Landscape” as part of push to create green spaces in support of Green Building Ordinance of Pasig.
After flag-raising ceremony, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and other city officials led ribbon-cutting for Earth Day fair at the city hall lobby where 10 exhibitors participated in showcasing their environment-friendly products.
Sotto, along with Vice Mayor Robert Jaworski Jr., city councilors, representatives from Mint College of Ortigas, AsiaLink and Department of Education -Schools Division office of Pasig led tree-planting and growing activity at Pasig Central Elementary School.
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