Marcos: Combating plastic pollution goes beyond rules, awareness drives

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need for a broader and more science-driven approach to tackling plastic pollution, noting that environmental pressures are converging with rapid technological change.

Marcos made the remark as he attended the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International High-Level Forum on Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) at a hotel in Pasay City.

“Leadership today demands not only political will, but an ability to integrate scientific evidence, cutting-edge research, and strategic foresight into national and global decision-making,” Marcos said.

“Plastic pollution is emblematic of this new era of challenges: global in scale, persistent in impact, and deeply entangled with the way economies grow,” he added.

Marcos said the issue affects biodiversity, public health, supply chains, and the lives of coastal and urban communities.

He said addressing the problem requires “going beyond regulation and advocacy.”

“It requires technology that is credible, scalable, and grounded in rigorous science,” he said.

The forum was organized by the IAEA and the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the DOST–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).

The event positions the Philippines as a proactive partner in advancing nuclear and radiation technologies for practical, science-based solutions—a move Marcos said demonstrates a forward-looking commitment to innovation-driven environmental action.

He added that the Philippines is proud to support IAEA initiatives, noting that the country has embraced international scientific cooperation in addressing plastic pollution.

Marcos said NUTEC Plastics “embodies the kind of innovation that we need — solutions that merge advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection, to translate scientific progress into tangible benefits for industry and for society.”—MCG, GMA Integrated News