‘Plastic waste harming oceans and livelihood’

As the nation marks the Month of the Ocean, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has urged the public to do their part in protecting the country's marine resources.

"Let us all do our part in saving coral reefs. Plastic wastes leaking into our seas and oceans also damage our reefs. These also kill marine creatures especially sea turtles and fish," Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said Thursday.

Villar said the dumping of plastic in oceans "will threaten the entire ecosystem."

"Moreover, livelihoods and food sources will be adversely affected," she added.

May was declared the “Month of the Ocean” by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57, signed by former President Joseph Estrada in 1998.

The DENR leads the observance of the Month of the Ocean.

Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, renewed his appeal for the passage of the Senate Bill (SB) No. 1032 or proposed Beverage Container Disposal Act.

Villanueva, in pushing the approval of the measure, cited the need to improve the country's waste disposal management, stressing that "excessive production and use of beverage containers can impose both environmental and health risks to both humans and animals."

"The government needs to strengthen existing mechanisms for effective disposal of beverage containers by institutionalizing the active participation of both the industry and consumers in reusing and recycling beverage containers," he said.

Under SB 1032, beverage companies would be required to prepare, submit, and implement a management plan that sets out an effective disposal mechanism and accounting of beverage containers.