DENR Secretary Loyzaga's speech at the launch of the Philippine National Plastic Action Partnership

National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines Launch | 23 January 2025, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Marco Polo Hotel, 7th Floor

Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Isang makakalikasang umaga po sa ating lahat. Good morning.

Let me just acknowledge with grateful thanks our Steering Committee Board, those that are here joining us at the table, Dr. Selva Ramachandra, of course the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme and, of course, spearheading the NPAP Secretariat; Her Excellency Laure Beaufils, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Philippines; His Excellency David Hartman, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines; Ms. Clemence Schmid, Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership; Ms. Trin Custodio, who’s also here, the Director of World Wildlife Fund; members of the diplomatic corps, partners in the development sector, colleagues in government, good morning.

It’s with great optimism that I welcome you to the launch of the National Plastic Action Partnership or NPAP Philippines. Today, your presence – and that includes, of course, the representatives of the governments from the United Kingdom and Canada and the EU, Dr. Marco Gemmer is here as well. And of course, to our Secretariat Head and Lead for NPAP, UNDP, our co-chair, Mr. Anton Del Rosario of Coca-Cola Philippines and, of course, our partners in civil society, and representatives from WEF. This meeting embodies the collective will and the need to address one of the most critical environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution.

To the members of the Steering Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for accepting the responsibility of serving on this board. To see leaders, innovators, and advocates from across sectors united under one purpose is a very profound demonstration of our shared commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future not just for our nation, but for our world. Your participation today has set the foundation for transformative action, and not just discussion, one that will transcend sectors and scales, and we hope will create meaningful impact and change in our society.

Humanity has profoundly altered nature, reshaping the very systems upon which all life depends. This encounter underscores how deeply interconnected our natural systems are and how our actions ripple across these systems in the ways we consume and produce.

It is within our power, and as Mr. Pawan (Patil) of the World Bank has said in our earlier meeting, to change the future of plastic in this country within the decade. Guided by knowledge and care to strengthen our natural connections for the greater good. By recognizing the weight of our responsibility and our actions, we can proceed with purpose, and we can create truly meaningful and lasting change.

The challenge before us is immense, to say the least. The Philippines generates approximately 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Tragically, a significant portion of this waste finds its way into our oceans, placing our country among the top reported contributors to marine plastic pollution globally. The crisis extends far beyond environmental degradation; it’s a multifaceted crisis that threatens our biodiversity, our ecosystems’ integrity, sustainable livelihoods, and our own public health.

The cost of inaction is staggering. Vulnerable coastal communities, of course, bear the brunt of plastic pollution, while our ecosystems – which are integral to the country’s natural wealth – may suffer, in fact, irreparable damage. What is important is we understand the roots and drivers of this particular problem. The socioeconomic implications of this problem must be addressed. Our behaviors, our cultures, the way we regard our consumption and production – these are all part of the solution. No sector is spared. Disaster risk reduction and the climate change community as well need to be involved in the way we address waste management and the growing burden of plastics on our society.

This crisis is therefore not merely a matter of environmental stewardship; it is a question of equity, resilience, and sustainable development.

The NPAP represents a pivotal step forward. It is a dynamic and inclusive mechanism designed to unify and amplify our collective efforts.

We had a very lively first meeting of the Steering Board Committee this morning. There were many insights, many thoughts, and many contributions from all the representatives there.

The NPAP aligns with our country’s national development priorities, specifically our broader goals of environmental integrity, economic resilience, and inclusive growth. Its framework supports key policies, including the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP), and our commitments to marine litter reduction, as well as our commitments to Paris, the SDGs, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and all the other international commitments we have made in order to preserve natural environments for sustainable development.

This platform will really catalyze a transition to a circular economy, one that views plastic waste not as an insurmountable burden but as an opportunity for science, engineering, technology, and innovation to address this particular crisis. By adopting circularity, we can transform waste into resources, reduce environmental pressures, and enhance economic and social well-being for all.

Our membership in the Global Plastic Action Partnership or GPAP, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, now reflects the Philippines’ leadership in confronting plastic pollution. By joining the network in 2023, we embraced a shared vision for systemic change, rooted in collaboration and sustainability.

The DENR is in the lead for (1) intensifying compliance with the EPR Act, (2) promoting investments in advanced waste management technologies, and (3) expanding partnerships across all sectors. The NPAP is critically a multistakeholder platform. We hope that the efforts of the multistakeholder platform will now resonate all the way down to the community.

These efforts aim to address not only plastic pollution but also the management of hazardous, electronic, and industrial waste – all of which are part of the DENR’s platform.

The NPAP exemplifies how global expertise can be harnessed for local impact. Its Steering Board, composed of senior executives from government, business, and civil society, will ensure transparency, alignment, and the strategic direction needed to achieve its objectives. Supported by the UNDP as the Secretariat, NPAP is poised to operationalize its goals with efficiency and accountability.

The road ahead will not be without challenges, but this partnership demonstrates the strength of our resolve. Together, we have the capacity not only to mitigate the devastating impacts of plastic pollution but also to foster a legacy of sustainability for future generations.

As we officially launch the NPAP, I invite the Steering Board and our partners to then join me on stage. I extend my deepest gratitude to the WEF, the UK Government, the Government of Canada, the EU, and the Coca-Cola Foundation because of its leadership as co-chair, for their steadfast support and work.

Let this day mark the start of a new chapter in what we call the race to resilience through environmental resource and management.

It is with great pride that I officially launch the National Plastic Action Partnership in the Philippines.

Thank you very much, and Mabuhay.