Villar wants firms made liable for plastic trash

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday sought amendments to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to make manufacturers that produce products that end up as plastic trash more accountable in managing and recycling their wastes.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, conducted a hearing yesterday on the ecological state of the Manila Bay and Pasig River as well as other tributaries in Metro Manila.

She lamented the poor implementation of 15-year-old Republic Act 9003 that led to the Philippines becoming the third highest producer of plastic wastes dumped into oceans after China and Indonesia.

“We can’t allow token CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs and let the government take of everything. We cannot go on like this. We’re fast killing our fishes, and eventually ourselves,” she said.

Sonia Mendoza, chairperson of the Mother Earth Foundation, told the committee that based on their findings as well as studies of other organizations, plastic bags as well as food, shampoo, and coffee sachets comprise most of the plastic wastes found in Manila Bay and Pasig River.

Villar said large manufacturers do not run any materials recovery facility or recycling program.

She said she is looking at amendments to impose penalties on such firms, including their top officials, as well as changes in investment laws to allow for more incentives to companies that protect the environment.