The Climate Change Commission (CCC) launched the “Bawal Plastik Dito!” sticker pack on Viber and Telegram to mark Philippine Environment Month and raise awareness about ocean protection and waste management.
Supporting this year’s theme, “Ending Global Plastic Pollution,” the campaign highlights the urgent need to address the plastic crisis threatening marine ecosystems and public health. Each year, 10 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean, accounting for 80 percent of marine pollution.
“The amount of plastic waste in the ocean is alarming, considering that it generally takes 500 to 1,000 years for them to degrade,” said CCC Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. “Ocean clean-up should be our last resort. What we do – immediately – is to reject single-use plastics and ramp up our waste management system in our households and communities.”
Borje noted that under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the National Adaptation Plan guides efforts to tackle plastic pollution alongside policies like the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which holds companies accountable for plastic waste.
The sticker pack also supports the ongoing Third UN Ocean Conference in France, focused on accelerating global action to protect the ocean.