Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday called for direct and tangible actions to curb plastic pollution, such as a ban on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastic products.

Velasco made the call as the world celebrates Earth Day amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, which has made the environmental issue worse with the production and importation in large quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) to fight the virus.

“We should be more determined and proactive in eradicating plastic pollution. We are racing against time to save our planet,” Velasco said.

He cited data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) showing that over 300 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide every year with at least 8 million tons that end up into the oceans.

“All these end up in open landfills and the ocean, adding to the already worsening problem of pollution,” he said, adding that these plastic pollutants are “very harmful” to both marine animals and humans.

According to IUCN, marine species ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and deaths. It added that plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.

To help address the issue, Velasco proposed House Bill 9147, which seeks to regulate the production, importation, sale, distribution, provision, use, recovery, collection, recycling and disposal of single-use plastic products.

The bill is currently under consideration for second reading.

“The measure also provides steps for the eventual phasing out of single-use plastic products, a step that is from all accounts, one in the right direction,” Velasco said.

The measure aims to protect life, both land and water, from hazards posed by plastic pollution and to ensure that non-compostable single-use synthetic plastic products do not leak into nature.

It also seeks to promote circularity through reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastic trash. (PNA)