The House Committee on Ecology began deliberations on 17 measures seeking to regulate or ban single-use plastics nationwide, as the massive volume of plastic waste clogging waterways renewed concerns over its contribution to flooding in Metro Manila.
Committee Chair and Cavite 8th District Representative Aniela Tolentino said the recent scenes of waterways choked with garbage highlight the urgency of legislative action against plastic pollution and improper waste disposal.
“The MMDA conducted a continuous five-day cleanup operation and hauled 748.87 metric tons of garbage and debris—the equivalent of approximately 203 dump truckloads.”
Tolentino cited the massive accumulation of garbage in a water channel linking Parañaque and Pasay, where the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted a continuous five-day cleanup operation and hauled 748.87 metric tons of garbage and debris—the equivalent of approximately 203 dump truckloads.
According to the legislator, visual assessments and reports indicated that as much as 80 percent of the visible floating waste consisted of plastic and styrofoam, including single-use sachets, PET bottles, food wrappers, sacks and polystyrene containers.
“Who would not be pained by this ‘sea of garbage’? This is far more than an eyesore… It is a glaring manifestation of the persistent crisis of plastic pollution, improper waste disposal, and the urgent necessity for comprehensive waste reduction and management systems,” the lady lawmaker said.
The issue has taken on greater urgency following the recent flooding in Metro Manila, where the condition of drainage systems, waterways and other channels again highlighted the need to keep waste from obstructing the flow of water.
She said that while Congress has already enacted landmark environmental measures such as Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and RA 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, conditions on the ground show that existing laws are not enough.
“This crisis is a vicious recurring cycle, and the gap between policy and reality demands stronger, decisive legislative action,” Tolentino stressed.
The Committee is deliberating on 17 House bills proposing different approaches to reducing single-use plastic waste:
* House Bill (HB) 915, filed by Rep. Bernadette Barbers, seeks to ban nationwide the production and use of single-use plastic products and impose penalties for violations.
* HB 1703 of Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba seeks to regulate the production, importation, sale and use of single-use plastics.
* HBs 2595, 3049, 3586, 6470, 6853, 9398 and 9829, authored respectively by Reps. Kenneth Paolo Tereng, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Jane Castro, Omar Vincent Duterte, Ricardo Cruz Jr., King Collantes and Eric Go Yap, seek to regulate the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision, use, recovery, collection, recycling and disposal of single-use plastic products.
* HB 3268 of Rep. Josefina Tallado proposes a nationwide ban on single-use plastics.
* HB 4083 of Representative Lorenz Defensor seeks to prohibit the use of plastics, other non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances in advertising goods, services or events, including election propaganda.
* HBs 4092 and 7705 of Representatives Ramon Guico Jr. and Robert Nazal, respectively, propose a nationwide ban on single-use plastics to eliminate plastic pollution.
* HB 5112 of Representative Audrey Kay Zubiri seeks to require tethered caps on single-use plastic beverage containers through amendments to RA 9003.
* HB 5590 of Rep. Salvador Pleyto proposes a nationwide ban on the production, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic products, while providing exemptions for necessary applications and establishing a framework to promote sustainable alternatives.
* HB 6037 of Representative Iris Marie Demesa Montes seeks to regulate the manufacture, importation and use of single-use plastic products while establishing penalties, levies and incentives for industries, businesses and consumers.
* HB 6415 of Representative Renee Louise Co seeks to prohibit single-use plastics, styrofoam and other environmentally harmful synthetic materials in food service establishments in educational institutions.
“The Committee intends to examine the availability of viable alternatives such as paper and certified compostable materials.”
Beyond determining whether specific single-use plastics should be totally banned or gradually phased out, Tolentino said the Committee intends to examine the availability of viable alternatives such as paper and certified compostable materials.
The panel will also look into the recovery, disposal and diversion of plastic waste, including the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Act and the feasibility of requiring packaging buy-back schemes, particularly for sachets.
Tolentino said lawmakers would likewise examine the potential role of waste-to-energy and other environmentally sound thermal treatment technologies in addressing the country’s plastic waste problem.
