APRIL 30, 2024 – As economies advance, waste is typically seen as an inevitable byproduct of economic development. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) challenges this traditional notion, asserting that progress need not be synonymous with waste generation. NEDA has taken proactive steps to demonstrate this, including by raising awareness on the issues.
For this year’s commemoration of Earth Day, NEDA, including Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, participated in RunRio Inc.’s Earth Day Run 2024 at the SM MOA Complex. The theme “Planet vs. Plastics” underscores the urgency of reducing plastic pollution.
The Philippines grapples with a pressing issue: plastic pollution. A common practice among Filipinos, particularly patrons of local sari-sari (variety) stores, is purchasing goods in quantities smaller than standard retail packaging (known as “tingi”). According to the World Bank, this reliance results in a staggering 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually in the country.
Moreover, as the country steadily advances toward upper-middle-income status, the specter of increased waste looms. Based on the average waste generated by higher-income and developed countries, and using the latest population projections by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s total waste could reach a staggering total of 194,138 metric tons per day by 2055. Adding to the complexity, the Philippines faces an inefficient waste management system. In 2021, Lourens Meijer et al. observed that approximately 10 percent of mismanaged plastic waste found its way into the world’s oceans in 2019, exacerbating the global plastic pollution crisis.
In response, NEDA has taken proactive steps to shape a sustainable future starting with the formulation of the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP). This comprehensive framework aims to influence sustainable practices and behavior across sectors and government levels. Key policy actions include implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act or Republic Act 11898, which mandates the private sector to minimize post-consumer plastic waste associated with their products. Additionally, the plan advocates for innovative alternatives to single-use plastics and encourages the development of longer-lasting, resource-efficient products and services—from production to consumption.
NEDA also champions legislation to further phaseout single-use plastics, including House Bill No. 26: Unnecessary Plastic Products Regulation and House Bill No. 4102: Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastic Bags.
Complementing these strategies, the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML) provides a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder blueprint for managing marine litter across the value chain. It involves developing baseline data and establishing a methodology for aggregating data on marine litter at the national level.
Likewise, NPOA-ML aims to enhance recovery and recycling coverage and market linkages to prevent leakage from collected and disposed wastes. Furthermore, the plan integrates circular economy principles and promotes sustainable consumption and production in the operations of industries, including micro, small, and medium enterprises. The NPOA-ML was developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the support of the United Nations Development Programme Philippines.
As the country’s premier socioeconomic planning agency, NEDA advocates collaborative efforts with the private sector and the international community to scale up sustainable and green investments and improve waste management. Together, we can create a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society for present and future generations—a society where green growth prevails over plastic pollution.
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Sources:
Meijer et al. (2021). More than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean. Science Advances. – processed by Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/plastic-waste-mismanaged
International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2020, January 31). Waste Woes in the World. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2020/01/31/waste-woes-in-the-world