Malacañang Thursday said Duterte is inclined to ban the use of plastic products in the country due to its harmful effects on the environment. #plasticban

A worker sorts out assorted recyclable plastic at a junk shop in Manila. Programs are already being done by local government units to reduce plastic wastes in the country that cause serious damage to the environment both during its production and disposal. (AFP)

Malacañang has called on Congress to pass a bill that bans the use single-use plastics nationwide.

In a radio interview, Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte has floated that idea and it’s for the members of Congress to adopt it.

“(It’s up them) to use their initiative to have that kind of idea bear fruition,” Panelo said.

When asked about the possibility of Duterte cerifying the bill as urgent, Panelo said its still up to both the House of Representatives and Senate to make the move.

“Tignan natin kung meron myembro ng Kongreso o Senado na magpausad ng ganyang idea dahil suportado na ni Presidente oh di hindi kataka-taka [Let’s see if there are members of Congress and Senate to move that kind of idea because the President already support it so there is no wonder],” Panelo said.

Panelo, at the same time, said that other laws concerning the environment such as Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 should be properly implemented and not neglected.

“Eh siguro dapat ipatupad na natin nang maayos para kung ano ‘yung dapat trabahuin ayon sa… eh sa ngayon gawin na nila kasi naaapektuhan na rin yung ating ecology [We should implement it properly because our ecology ia already being affected],” Panelo said.

Malacañang Thursday said Duterte is inclined to ban the use of plastic products in the country due to its harmful effects on the environment. He, however, could not say if the Chief Executive is in favor of banning single-use plastics.

“Hindi ko exactly alam kung single-use or—basta sinabi niya lang na inclined siya na i-ban [I don’t know exactly if single use or – what he said is that he is inclined to ban it],” Panelo told reporters.

“In connection with the climate change issue,” he added.

Panelo said the matter was raised by the Chief Executive during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting at the Palace.

Earlier, a bill imposing a total ban on single-use plastics, as well a phaseout of plastics already in use was filed in the House of Representatives.

House Bill No..8692 or the “Ban on Single-use Plastic Products” still has to go through the approval process by Congress.

Aside from banning establishments like restaurants and retail stores from using plastic, the bill also disallows the manufacturing, importing and selling of single-use plastics.

These plastics products would include straws, cups, shopping bags, food containers, and more. The ban would take full effect one year after the bill is passed.

Greenpeace said it is amenable to a nationwide ban on single-use plastics.

“Greenpeace welcomes the announcement that President Duterte is considering a nationwide ban on single-use plastics. This is a long delayed pronouncement which we trust will be put into action and will not remain a mere statement,” Abigail Aguilar, the regional campaign coordinator at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said.

“The solution to the scourge of single-use plastics is to avoid its manufacture. As a first step, the President needs to certify as priority a strong national single-use plastic ban bill, which should aim for a drastic reduction of the manufacture of single-use plastic products and packaging, and their eventual elimination from the market.”

“Importantly, this ban must include the phase out of sachet packaging, direct companies to redesign products and packaging, and give incentives to reuse, refill and other alternative delivery systems,” she added.

Aguilar said the ban should not include false solutions such as materials substitution to paper or bioplastics, lightweighting of packaging, and chemical recycling, among others.