SEN. Loren Legarda on Tuesday called on government agencies to find ways to reuse everyday products and reduce waste. She also urged Filipinos to cut back on single-use plastics.
In observance of National Zero Waste Month, the senator reiterated her call for Filipinos to lean into recyclable materials and contribute to a more sustainable waste management cycle.
“The Philippines has been tagged as one of the top ocean polluters worldwide, primarily due to our dependence on single-use plastics,” Legarda said in a statement.
“It is time to break free from this harmful practice by harnessing our ingenuity and resourcefulness to develop and promote reusable alternatives for our everyday lives,” she said.
Legarda has repeatedly pushed for the strict implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act 9003, which she authored and principally sponsored.
The law prohibits open burning of solid waste, introduces waste segregation at source for better disposal practices, and supports local government units in establishing ecological solid waste management programs.
“With successful implementation, we can achieve our goal of transitioning to a circular economy by 2030,” Legarda said.
The Philippines has been celebrating the National Zero Waste Month every January after then-president Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation 760 in 2014.
The proclamation urges all government agencies and instrumentalities to participate in endeavors related to the celebration.
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