𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 | 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼-𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

After signing the Presidential Proclamation no. 760, s. 2014, the month of January is declared as the celebration of Zero Waste Month by the late President Benigno S. Aquino, III, which anchored to the Republic Act No. 9003 or also known as ‘Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000’. The creation of these legalities only proved that waste management in the Philippines is one of the problems encountered since then. It is a disheartening and undeniable truth that the country isn’t just a haven of wondrous places. However, in certain areas, it’s also a site of landfills.

The event above is an advocacy campaign for societal change, particularly with its goal of changing the lifestyle of Filipinos through simulating the sustainable natural cycles wherein those discarded materials or waste must be reused, recycled, or recreated into valuable things. Favorably, the government agencies and nonprofit organizations utilize the advancement of technologies or individuals to help disseminate knowledge concerning the zero-waste community to spread environmental awareness even to ordinary citizens. Recently, on a Facebook story posted from The Low Impact, Filipina said that, at first, she thought that zero waste means literally ‘zero’ and free from waste. Still, she realized it was wrong ever since she started living with low-impact in 2017.

In fact, according to the World Bank Group, out of 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean globally, 80% of that marine leakage is attributed to Asia. In comparison, the Philippines placed on the third-largest contributor of estimated 0.75 million metric tonnes of mismanaged plastics entering the ocean annually. Indeed, this is a saddening study labeling the country as lacking practices on maintaining an eco-friendly discharging the wastes that commonly cause pollution, destructs the aesthetic nature, and certainly harms the marine organisms. Fortunately, a movement from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) targeting the national waste diversion of the stated percentage this year, 2022, through The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) publication. Meanwhile, issues about illegal actions concerning environmental challenges also exist locally. Conforming to National Solid Waste Management Status Report in 2018, the number of illegal dumpsites in the country has narrowed down to 353 from 806 in 2008 of all regions.

Unanticipatedly, Region IV-B has 19 illegal dumpsites disclosed, whereas NCR, CAR, and Region 12 had no reported one. If these unlawful acts continue, people who live near or within those raw-open or lack of engineering measure areas are vulnerable to different diseases affecting their physical health brought by the insects and pests, and methane gases which also influences global warming.

The staggering 163 million pieces of sachet reproduce every day; Earth is calling now for action, not just because today is January, but it wanted the next generation to experience the same resources. That is the mission of the present times. Pinoys are accountable to remove the associated tagged “sachet economy” country. Although plastics supply low-cost consumer foods to middle-income and low-income families. The shopping mall giants, facilities, plants, and offices, especially those from highly urbanized cities (HUCs), are aspired to keep promoting reduction, implement reusing, and exercise recycling (3Rs) of waste.

The government offices and its key officials, local and national, are also expected to make progress, hence, this coming 2022 election is an auspicious time to choose and select politicians who have the heart for the environment. And the fact that waste management is still on the list of motherland’s stumbling blocks try to conserve energy during this home quarantine period, bring own reusable food containers, water bottles, and utensils. Also, use alternative modes of transportation when buying food outside, and most importantly, learn to shop mindfully by saying “no” on added plastic and paper bags.

The League of Environmental Advocates and Defenders (LEAD) believes that zero waste in the Philippines can be a reality if all Filipinos know they aren’t consumers alone. Yet, they can be Spider-Man too, unconnected to arachnid abilities, but live in an ecologically smart way, speedily respond to community services asking for volunteers, balance what a person can eat only, and accelerate healing for the Earth as soon as possible.

| REFERENCES

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2018. “National Solid Waste Management Report 2018” DENR. Quezon City, Philippines. The Low Impact Filipina 2022. [Zero waste month Facebook story]. The Low Impact Facebook page, Philippines. 

World Bank Group 2021. Market Study for the Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers. Marine Plastics Series, East Asia and Pacific Region. Washington DC.