DENR: LABAN NG MUNDO SA PLASTIC PINAKA “DEADLY CHALLENGE”

Binigyang diin ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga na ang isa sa pinakadelikadong kinakaharap na suliranin ng mundo ngayon na nagdudulot ng pagkasira ng kalikasan ay ang plastic kung saan sa Pilipinas lang umano ay umaabot na ng 2.7 milyong tonelada ng plastic waste ang napo-produce kada taon .

Ayon kay Loyzaga,marami ang hindi nakakaalam, base sa mga pag- aaral na umaabot sa US $890 ang nawawalang halaga sa Pilipinas dahil lang sa hindi muling ginagamit o nire-recyle ang mga plastic.”They are also unaware that studies have shown the Philippines loses around US$890 Million every year because we throw away recyclable plastic instead of repurposing it, “saad ni Loyzaga sa kanyang mensahe sa Earth Day ngayong April 22 na ipinadala sa media.

“This year’s Earth Day is an urgent a call to face a deadly challenge. Planet vs. Plastics aims to spread awareness of the indestructibility of plastics and the hazards they pose to our health, the life of our ecosystems and our ability to take effective climate action. The Philippines produces around 2.7 Million tons of plastic waste each year. Most of it ends up landfills, dumpsites, our rivers and water supply systems,” pahayag ni Loyzaga.

Giit ni Loyzaga, 20 % ng naturang plastic wastes ay napupunta umano sa mga karagatan.

“Over and above our organic waste, plastic for our market needs, food wrapping, packaging for our consumer all make up the 61,000 metric tons of solid waste weproduce daily. When the rains come, we are literally swimming in it. But on a daily basis we consume plastics in the fish caught in our seas, through the substandard water bottles we use and in the very air we are breath. Microplastics have been found raindrops and are being studied for their impact on clouds and climate change,” paliwanag ni Loyzaga.

“Many are unaware that plastics have traditionally been made from oil, natural gas or coal, the very fossil fuel sources that have driven climate change,”dagdag pa nito.
Bilang hakbang umano ng pamahalaan sa suliraning ito, sinabi ni Loyzaga na isinabatas ang “Expanded Producer’s Responsibility Act” o EPR.

Aabot sa 800 ang large-scale companies ang nagrehistro at nangakong babawasan ang paggamit ng plastic sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalit ng kanilang packaging sa kanilang mga produkto.

Subalit hindi aniya kaya ng pamahalaan at mga korporasyon gawin ang bahagi nila sa hakbang na bawasan ang pagamit ng mga plastic. Kailangan din ay tumulong at gawin ng iba ang kanilang bahagi tulad ng mga experts at unibersidad, at maging sa mga tahanan. “The government and the corporations cannot do it alone.Transformation towards a plastics free world begins at home. Experts and universities must also do their share. Sustainable and affordable alternatives must be found along with changes in production and consumption,”dagdag ni Loyzaga.
Ma. Luisa Macabuhay-Garcia