EPR, “big leap forward” para mawala ang plastic waste — Villar

Ni NOEL ABUEL

Nanawagan si Senador Cynthia Villar na suportahan ang Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 at circular economy.

“This law offers a better approach to plastic waste management than merely expecting citizens to segregate and manage it, or leaving the local government units across our more than seven thousand islands to handle overwhelming plastic waste,” sabi ni Villar, principal author at sponsor ng EPR o Republic Act No. 11898.

Aniya, kung wala ang EPR system, magulo at mahal ang pangongolekta ng packaging waste sa Pilipinas.

Sa ilalim ng EPR, responsibilidad ng manufacturers ang plastic wastes ng kanilang produkto mula sa paggawa hanggang sa pagtapon.

“Experiences around the world have shown that EPRs have shifted the financial burden of waste management to producers, thereby resulting in reduced public costs for hauling and disposal, decreased waste volumes, and a thriving recycling industry,” ani Villar.

Ipinahayag din ng chairperson ng Senate committee on environment and natural resources, na inoobliga ang enterprises na magkakontrata sa Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) para sa resource recovery ng kanilang basura.

Sa pagtupad sa Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 at circular economy, sinabi ni Villar na handa na ang bansa sa mas “sustainable future.”

“The EPR law is not a burden but a call to partnership and cooperation, recognizing that we all have a role to play,” giit ni Villar kasabay ng pahayag na dapat na tayong kumilos ngayon din.

Naging panauhing pandangal si Villar sa Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 Campaign Launch na idinaos sa Conrad Hotel, Pasay City, noong nakalipas na Agosto 4.

Tema ng okasyon na inorganisa ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at UNDF ang LOOPFORWARD: Linking Opportunities and Partnerships Towards Circular through EPR.”

Itinatakda rin sa batas ang insentibo sa ilalim ng National Internal Revenue Code sa enterprises na nagpapatupad sa EPR.

Samantala, pinasalamatan ni Villar ang DENR sa pangunguna ni Sec. Toni Loyzaga sa implementing rules and regulations (IRR) ng EPR law at pagtataguyod sa kampanya upang higit na marami ang tumupad sa batas na ito.