ILOILO City – Life will be “more beautiful” without plastics, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional director Jim O Sampulna.
Sampulna said this in his speech during the opening program of the World Environment Day 2018 celebration last week.
“We will avoid using plastic bottles. If only all plastics are recovered, or if only local government units, national government agencies and even the president himself, would issue a decree or law to ban the use of plastics, our lives would be more beautiful,” said Sampulna.
The program was preceded by a zumba dance at the DENR regional field office in the city. An office cleanup followed.
An environmental photo exhibit at the 2nd floor of SM City Iloilo’s North Wing was also staged from June 5 to 15.
Proclamation No. 237 declares the month of June as the Environment Month in the Philippines while the United Nations declares June 5 of every year is World Environment Day.
The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is “Beat Plastic Pollution,” a call to minimize, reuse or all together stop the use of single-use plastics like straws, coffee stirrers, sachet products, and grocery bags, among others.
Great volumes of these plastics end up in the oceans, resulting to water pollution. It also exposes marine plants and animals in danger.
In the North Pacific Ocean, there is a “floating island” of plastic garbage known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.”
DENR secretary Roy Cimatu urged Filipinos to refrain from using single-use plastics.
“It is high time we refrain from using disposable plastic products that are used for minutes, but persist in the environment forever,” Cimatu said.
In addition, Sampulna particularly cited plastic bottles, which he said has carcinogenic content. This dangerous content is released when the plastic bottle is exposed to hot water, he explained.
“Be very careful in using plastic bottles for they can cause you harm,” warned Sampulna. (With DENR Region 6/PN)
