Soon, all Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel will no longer be able to utilize single-use plastic.

The PCG revealed Monday, Sept. 19, that it will advocate the banning of single-use plastic as part of its efforts to uphold marine environmental protection.

Such initiative was the highlight of the PCG's celebration of the National Maritime Week 2022.

The new directive will be formalized through the signing of a “pledge of commitment” by Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant; Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Hernan Fabia; and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Officer-in-Charge Francisquel Mancile on Sept. 25 – the last day of the National Maritime Week 2022.

PCG spokesperson, Commodore Armando Balilo said the advocacy aims to instill in the minds of coast guardians, and even ship passengers and shipping companies to avoid the use of single-use plastic.

“We are pushing for this advocacy because we want it to be part of the conversation of the passengers, shipping companies, and all stakeholders,” Balilo said.

Among the items that will be prohibited by thr PCG include plastic cups, drinking straws, plastic coffee stirrers, plastic utensils, sando bags, and plastic wrappers.

The Philippines is the fifth-largest contributor of marine plastics in the world as it produces 1.01 million metric tons of mismanaged plastics annually, said Dr. Deo Florence Onda, a marine scientist at the University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute in an interview in 2021. The Philippines only trails Indonesia, India, United States, and Brazil in the said category.

The low-cost and convenience of plastic sachets and inefficient waste disposal are among the reasons why the Philippines is considered as one of the world’s leading plastic polluters, according to non-governmental organization World Wild Fun (WWF)-Philippines.

In the maritime industry, plastic is an essential part of its operations as it is mainly used in food packaging by shipping companies.

But Balilo said that through the PCG’s initiative, even the shipping companies can consider other alternatives to single-use plastic.

For PCG personnel who will violate the policy, Balilo said they may face hefty fines and other punishements.

"We can impose penalties for our personnel who will disobey the directive," he said, although clarifying that the PCG has yet to come up with clear guidelines as to the imposition of the punishment.

Balilo vowed that the PCG will closely coordinate with the MARINA and PPA to encourage cooperation and inter-agency-based regulation among waste contributors and generators through various waste reduction and management techniques such as banning the usage of single-use plastic.

Last Saturday, the PCG collected more than 1,000 sacks of sea waste at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach in time for the Inernational Coastal Clean-Up Drive 2022.

A big chunk of the sea waste collected included plastic bottles, slippers, cigarette butts, plastic cups, food and candy wrappers, boxes, diapers, toys, and face masks.