QUEZON CITY, Philippines (26 July 2024) — The extreme rainfall from Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwestern monsoon brought severe flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. In a statement, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pins the blame on waste disposal as one of the main causes of flooding. Reacting to the statement, Greenpeace Zero Waste Campaigner Marian Ledesma said:
“President Marcos Jr. rightly points out the issue of waste disposal, but we must go further to address the root cause of plastic pollution. The Philippines bears the brunt of the plastic pollution crisis, which becomes glaringly evident during climate disasters. Comprehensive flood control must include a national ban on sachets. The unregulated production of single-use plastics by corporations, especially sachets, is a major culprit behind clogged waterways and severe flooding. Plastic pollution not only worsens flooding, but also increases health and livelihood risks for millions of Filipinos.
“The urgent need for stronger regulations against single-use plastics cannot be overstated. The Marcos Jr. administration must hold corporations accountable for their relentless plastic production, rather than blaming the Filipino people for something far beyond their control. We need decisive actions that include adding sachets and common single-use plastics to the list of non-environmentally acceptable products under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). Furthermore, enhancing the Extended Producer Responsibility Act to focus on waste avoidance through reduction and reuse targets is essential.
“Research shows that plastic-aggravated flooding threatens over 200 million of the world’s poorest people, including Filipinos. A national ban on single-use plastics is not just an environmental necessity but a moral imperative, protecting our communities from the plastic crisis. Complementary, real, sustainable solutions like reuse and refill must be made accessible to more Filipinos to ensure a just transition away from single-use plastics.
“The message is clear: there will be no end to plastic pollution unless there is an end to sachets. Our environment and the well-being of our people must come first to ensure a safe and healthy future for the Philippines, free from the harms of plastics.”
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Notes to Editors:
You may download our photos of the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina and Habagat HERE. Kindly use the indicated photo credit line.
Media Contact:
Eunille Santos, Greenpeace Philippines Communications [email protected] | +63 9175411248