INILUNSAD ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) kung saan magtutulong-tulong ang iba’t-ibang sektor para masolusyunan ang lumalalang problema ng plastic pollution sa Pilipinas.

Si DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga ang isa sa mga naglunsad ng event na dinaluhan ng mga miyembro ng Steering Committee Board na sina Dr. Selva Ramachandra, kinatawan ng United Nations Development Programme at pangungunahan ang NPAP secretariat; Her Excellency Laure Beaufils, ambassador ng United Kingdom to the Philippines; His Excellency David Hartman, ambassador ng Canada to the Philippines at Clemence Schmid, director ng Global Plastic Action Partnership.

Pinasalamatan ni Loyzaga ang mga miyembro ng board at iba pang partner sa programa sa pagtanggap sa responsibilidad na sama-samang sugpuin ang problema sa plastic pollution.

Inamin ni Loyzaga na malaking hamon ang hinaharap ng bansa hinggil sa plastic pollution dahil sa umaabot sa 2.7 milyong metriko tonelada ng plastic waste ang naiipon kada taon.

“Tragically, a significant portion of this waste finds its way into our oceans placing our country among the top reported contributors to marine plastic pollution globally.

The crisis extends far beyond environmental degradation, it is a multifaceted crisis that threatens our biodiversity, our ecosystem’s integrity, sustainable livelihoods and our own public health,” diin ni Loyzaga.

Binigyang-diin ng kalihim na mahalaga na nauunawaan ang ugat at ang mga salig sa naturang problema.

“The NPAP aligns with our country’s national development priorities, specifically our broader goals of environmental integrity, economic resilience and inclusive growth.

Its framework supports key policies, including the extended producers responsibility (EPR) act, the Philippine action plan for sustainable consumption and production and our commitments to marine litter reduction as well as our commitments to Paris, the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), the Global Biodiversity framework and all other international commitments we have made to preserve natural environments for sustainable development of all,” dagdag ni Loyzaga.

Sa kabila ng mga inaasahan pang mga hamon, naniniwala si Loyzaga na magpapakita ang naturang partnership ng lakas at determinasyon na solusyunan ang problema sa plastic.

“Together, we have the capacity not only to mitigate the devastating impacts of plastic pollution but also to foster a legacy of sustainability for future generations,” pagtatapos ni Loyzaga.