Around 2.7 million tons of plastic waste materials are produced in the Philippines, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Sunday, Feb. 11, citing a World Bank report.
In a statement, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos noted that each person in the province produces an estimated 0.3 kilo of waste per day, while each city resident generates 0.7 kilo of waste daily.
Abalos continued that the 2.7 million tons of plastic waste that end up in the ocean “could spell disaster to marine life especially on coral reefs, as they will stay there for the long haul since they were non-biodegradable.’’
With the WB figures, Abalos said he feared the dangers posed by improper solid waste product disposal, even after relentlessly pushing for the more aggressive implementation of the government’s KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas program.
“The KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas program intends to uphold clean and green governance at barangay levels by promoting sustainable development and instill the habit of cleanliness among residents to create livable communities,’’ the DILG explained.
This development has prompted Abalos to call on the support of the local government units (LGUs) in the KALINISAN movement on the heels of the President’s directive to address waste mismanagement and promote clean communities nationwide.
On Saturday, Feb. 10, Abalos was in Malabon City for the “Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan” (KALINISAN) sa Bagong Pilipinas activity at Mega Dike in Barangay Dampalit.
The Dampalit Mega Dike is an 8.6-kilometer structure that showcases mangrove reforestation designed to help mitigate and minimize flooding in the CAMANAVA area.
Abalos stressed that the KALINISAN program was already able to collect tons of waste since its launch in Baseco last month.
He then encouraged all LGUs to support and implement the Kalinisan program not only in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Bulacan but throughout the country.