Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is advocating for sustainable solutions to prevent waste from infiltrating waterways while also proposing stronger deterrents against environmental infractions.
According to Philippines News Agency, Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna emphasized in a recent statement that the DENR is actively engaged in waste removal from rivers, creeks, and drainage systems. This initiative is part of the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to manage and reclaim plastic waste at its source, as well as the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) to acknowledge the true value of natural resources and ecosystem services when environmental harm occurs.
Cuna asserted that while continuous cleanup operations are essential to maintaining clear waterways and mitigating immediate risks from accumulated waste, they are not sufficient to resolve the country's persistent garbage dilemma. He underscored the necessity of long-term strategies that target the root cause of the problem and enhance measures to deter repeated exploitation of natural resources.
Under the EPR Act, enterprises are mandated to initiate programs to recover and divert plastic packaging waste, with an 80 percent diversion target set for 2028. Cuna highlighted the shift in responsibility from solely local government units to also include private sector participation in solid waste management, particularly in addressing plastic waste.
While EPR aims at preventing and reclaiming plastic waste, the DENR views Republic Act 11995 (PENCAS) as a means to fortify deterrence against the habitual misuse of natural resources. This approach aims to enhance the valuation of resources and services, thereby making the environmental costs of damage more apparent and discouraging recurrent harmful activities.
The DENR has installed 196 trash traps to collect waste from waterways and has mobilized 1,500 Estero Rangers and River Warriors to oversee and clean the creeks and rivers within the National Capital Region. Additionally, the Adopt-an-Estero Program enlists around 20 private enterprises, organizations, and government partners to take responsibility for the cleanup, rehabilitation, and maintenance of designated esteros.
Cuna stressed the critical need to prevent waste from entering waterways initially and called for collective efforts from the government, businesses, local authorities, and the public. He noted that the department is striving to shift the focus from repeated cleanups to preventing improper waste management from posing a continual threat to waterways, communities, and the environment.
