Villar files bill banning single-use plastics

Senator Cynthia Villar on Saturday pushed for a ban on single-use plastics, including an amendment to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, to counter the worsening environmental situation.

Senate Bill No. 333 or the Single-Use Plastic Product Regulation Act of 2019, filed by Villar, seeks to regulate the manufacture, importation, and use of single-use plastic products.

"Talagang nag-file na ako ng bill. Isa na diyan ang amendment to Solid Waste Management Law. Kasali doon how to deal with single use plastic. Marami na nangyari simula nang ipasa ang batas kaya dapat na mag amend," Villar said in a radio interview. 

"May prediction na rin ang yung Food and Agricultural Org that in 2050 there will be more plastic in [the] ocean than fish. Ngayon pa lang amend na tayo," she added.  

According to Villar, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, the amendment may be certified as urgent as they have been studying it for a long time, adding that they were only waiting for the 2020 budget to be finalized.

The senator also wanted plastic producers to be accountable for their plastic output.

"Gusto ko'ng gayahin na ang producer ng plastic should do their responsibility on recycling of plastic. Otherwise, they should not be allowed [to produce] those things. Dapat magbago na tayo at ayusin na natin," Villar said.

However, she clarified that plastic-use would not be banned if there was no other alternative.

"Hindi naman ipagbabawal kung walang alternative. They can do so, but they should have responsibility kasi ayun ang tinatawag na exteded producers responsibility," Villar said.

"Marami na tayo local bills pero ang sumusunod lang supermarkets. [Ang] sari-sari store di nila kayang pasunurin. Kailangan talaga may way of recycling," she added.

According to Villar, there should also be a study on the biggest producers of plastic, with China leading, followed by Indonesia, and then the Philippines. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News