DOH bans single-use plastics in Ilocos facilities

MANILA, Philippines — Single-use plastics are now prohibited in all facilities of the Department of Health (DOH) in Ilocos region.

The DOH said its regional and provincial offices, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and DOH-attached agencies, such as the National Nutrition Council and Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan and La Union are covered by the ban.

DOH regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco noted that single-use plastics do not decompose and only become fragments that pollute the environment for years.

“These kinds of plastics are not biodegradable and when they are shred into tiny pieces they end up in canals, rivers, farmland and eventually into the sea,” Sydiongco said in a statement.

The most common single-use plastic products are drinking straws, cups, drinking bottles, drink stirrers, spoons, forks, knives and thin-filmed sando bags.

Sydiongco encouraged residents and local government units to adopt a similar ban to minimize pollution.

She said the ban would also reduce the demand for plastic production, which is contributing to global climate change.

“We encourage residents to be responsible in using plastic products to reduce all kinds of marine pollution. Proper disposal and management of plastic waste must be done accordingly,” Sydiongco said.