As the Philippines observes National Zero Waste Month this January, Senator Loren Legarda stood firm in her call for a stronger national resolve to confront the country’s mounting waste crisis, warning that the window to prevent irreversible harm to the environment and public health is rapidly closing.
Legarda emphasized that while awareness has grown and community initiatives have flourished, the scale of the challenge demands deeper reforms and collective action.
“Zero Waste initiative is a national imperative.”
“Zero Waste initiative is a national imperative,” the veteran legislator declared.
“We must move beyond awareness into stronger, decisive action. Every Filipino has a responsibility, and every institution must rise to the challenge of safeguarding our environment and future generations,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator’s call comes amid alarming data from the World Bank’s 2025 What a Waste global database report, which ranked the Philippines 27th among 50 countries generating the most municipal solid waste at 14.6 million tons annually.
Plastic waste comprised a significant portion, with experts warning that escalating waste volumes threaten public health, urban resilience, and the country’s climate adaptation efforts.
The lady senator underscored that mismanaged waste directly worsens flooding and disaster vulnerability. In July 2025, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected over 600 tons of garbage across NCR during heavy monsoon rains, including 526.8 tons from pumping stations and 76.9 tons from flooded areas. Meanwhile, the DENR-NCR cleared over 872,000 sacks of debris from rivers and esteros to mitigate floods. Authorities confirmed that clogged waterways due to improper waste disposal intensified flooding in Metro Manila.
“Flooding is never just about rainfall; it is worsened by garbage choking our rivers and esteros,” Legarda warned.
“Every piece of trash becomes a barrier that endangers lives.”
“Every piece of trash becomes a barrier that endangers lives. Stronger waste discipline is the safeguard we can build together,” she stressed.
At the same time, Legarda highlighted that the framework for achieving Zero Waste has long existed through Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which she authored and principally sponsored.
The law mandates segregation at source, the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in every barangay, and the reduction of waste through recycling, composting, and reuse.
“RA 9003 gives us the roadmap: segregate at source, recycle, compost, and reuse,” she explained.
“If every barangay enforces materials recovery facilities and every household practices proper segregation, we can drastically reduce our waste and protect our communities,” Legarda added.
She also cited Republic Act No. 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, which she co-authored to strengthen RA 9003 by requiring producers to recover and recycle plastic packaging waste under defined EPR programs.
To complement these frameworks, Legarda refiled the Magna Carta of Waste Workers in the 20th Congress, a measure that seeks to standardize working conditions, extend social protection, and formally recognize both formal and informal waste workers as essential partners in environmental management.
“Waste workers are vital partners in safeguarding public health and the environment. By ensuring their rights and protections, we uphold their dignity and reinforce our commitment to people-centered environmental governance,” she said.
As the nation begins Zero Waste Month 2026, Legarda reaffirmed her commitment to advancing reforms that strengthen producer responsibility, empower communities, and institutionalize support for waste workers.
“This is the beginning of another year of responsibility,” he said. “But this time, it must be marked by decisive action and measurable results. Zero Waste is not a dream, it is a duty we owe to our country and to the future generations.”
