In a call to action on World Environment Day, officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) emphasized the urgent need for public involvement in combating plastic pollution. This year’s theme, “Ending Global Plastic Pollution,” highlights the rising crisis as plastic waste continues to dominate ecosystems worldwide.
The Scale of Plastic Production and Waste
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), global plastic production has skyrocketed over recent decades, reaching approximately 400 million tons each year. Disturbingly, this figure is expected to double by 2040, with plastic waste constituting at least 85% of the debris found in oceans.
In the Philippines alone, daily solid waste generation stands at 61,000 metric tons, with 12 to 14 percent—equating to around 7,320 to 8,540 tons—composed of plastic materials. Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga reported that among this plastic waste are staggering numbers: 163 million plastic sachets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags. Alarmingly, she noted that one-third of the country’s plastic waste is directed to landfills and dumpsites, while 35% ends up in the environment and oceans, further aggravating the pollution crisis.
Calls for Collective Action
Yulo-Loyzaga pointed out that the Philippines ranks as one of the leading contributors to global plastic waste. “Plastic pollution is an environmental challenge we can solve. We have the power to turn the tide,” stated Jacqueline Caancan, Director of the Environmental Management Bureau.
Caancan urged citizens not only to observe World Environment Day but to make everyday choices that support proper waste management. She called for concerted efforts at home and in communities, recommending actions like refusing single-use plastics, recycling, and choosing more sustainable consumer options.
“The future of our oceans, marine life, and planet depends on our collective action. Let us show the world the true spirit of bayanihan in protecting our environment,” Caancan added, stressing that individual and community efforts could steer the nation towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Protests Against Environmental Policies
Meanwhile, environmental advocacy groups, fisherfolk, and Indigenous peoples rallied outside the Supreme Court to protest its recent decision nullifying a 25-year moratorium on large-scale mining in Occidental Mindoro and permitting commercial fishing within 15 kilometers of municipal waters.
Protesters voiced concern that these rulings set dangerous precedents that threaten the country’s marine ecosystems, exacerbating the marginalization of small-scale fisherfolk and Indigenous communities. The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) described the Supreme Court’s decisions as exposing significant flaws in both the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Fisheries Code of 1998.
Jonila Castro, national spokesman for Kalikasan PNE, claimed, “By allowing large-scale mining and commercial fishing in areas previously protected, these decisions trample on the rights of local governments and communities to safeguard their environment and well-being.”
Impacts on Small-Scale Fisherfolk and Indigenous Communities
Salvador France, Secretary-General of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling would endanger the livelihoods of small fisherfolk by opening up around 90% of the nation’s municipal waters to exploitation by large commercial fishers. “This not only threatens our food security but also accelerates the depletion of our marine resources,” he warned.
Indigenous youth representative Ephin Falyao highlighted the negative effects of mining on Indigenous communities. “For more than two decades of this law’s implementation, Indigenous communities have continued to face deception and violence,” Falyao said, adding that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has often been used as a “rubber stamp” for mining companies rather than defending the rights of Indigenous peoples.
The protests reflect a growing discontent among various sectors regarding environmental governance and the prioritization of short-term economic gains over long-term ecological sustainability.
As communities rally for environmental justice, they urge policymakers to consider the adverse impacts of industrial activities on natural resources and the livelihoods of marginalized populations.
Final Thoughts
With the growing challenges posed by plastic pollution and the related environmental crises, the recent calls for awareness and activism from the DENR and grassroots organizations signal a pivotal moment in the Philippines’ fight against ecological degradation.
