Local government units , through ordinances, are pushing for a national law that will comprehensively and effectively address single-use plastics, advocates said during a recent joint webcast by Cebu Technological University and The Climate Reality Project Philippines.
He also noted that all regions in the country, except in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have LGUs regulating plastics.Soqueño noted that two bills were filed in the 17th Congress that sought to address the concern on single-use plastics. The consolidated bill that solely focused on extended producer responsibility schemes has been approved by both houses of Congress, but may lapse into law after no action was made by President Duterte.
“It’s not even a promulgated list. It’s a draft list … that was not yet approved by the agencies that advise the Commission…. Twenty-two years since the law was enacted, the draft list includes only two items—plastic soft drink straws and coffee stirrers,” he lamented.Soqueño pointed out that there are ways to shift to more sustainable systems without leaving low-income families behind, the Climate Reality news release said.
“This is why bills were designed to include an eventual phase-out of single-use plastics instead of an outright ban. This way, we can promote the development of eco-friendly products and develop alternative systems and approaches, such as refilling systems and zero-waste sari-sari stores,” he said.