Bicol environment exec campaigns against plastic use

The Manila Times

Bicol environment exec campaigns against plastic use  Maria Socorro Abu, director for Bicol's Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, tells The Manila Times that Bicol contributes 6 tons of plastic wastes in the country that go directly to the oceans. In an interview on June 7, 2025, Abu urged the public and local government units (LGUs) to end the pollution by minimizing the use of plastics. In commemoration of the Environment Month, which carries the theme 'Ending Global Plastic Pollution,' Abu said the campaign against plastics was a lifelong commitment that must begin today.   Video by Rhaydz Barcia  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #themanilatimes #tmtnews #philippines

Transcript

00:00What I recommend for our office is to avoid the plastic coming from the river,

00:11the water, the river, the ocean, the sea,

00:15because they don't really need to end up.

00:18Although, we don't want people to use plastic,

00:22because there are some comforts,

00:24but in solid waste management,

00:28you have to know the proper usage of what you are having

00:35para at the end of the day,

00:37we will control the pollution.

00:39So, what we say about the government,

00:42is that we should have a place

00:44where the people should be able to use the plastic,

00:49especially the plastic,

00:51because we will prevent it from going to the water,

00:54because there are effects on biodiversity,

00:56and the plastic,

00:58and, my goodness,

01:00if we can see the plastic in the water,

01:04why is it happening?

01:06And we will also let it be safe,

01:08but I think we will also help the local government.

01:11We will also help the local government,

01:13and particularly the local residents,

01:15because we are also,

01:16because we are just like,

01:17I,

01:18when I am plastic,

01:20I will not be able to take it.

01:22I used to put it in a little bit, and I used to put it in a little bit, and then I used to put it in a little bit.

01:32And then, we can do a pillowcase.

01:36So, when I use it, I use it, I use it, because the plastic is reusable, right?

01:43Yes.

01:44So, we can use it like this. We can use it in different forms.

01:49So, what I did was I used to do, and then I went back again.

01:54The other ones, the local government units, they can identify that they should go in,

02:01further use, recycling, and reducing.

02:10So, I just realized that the ability of local government units to make this work,

02:16lalo na yung sa plastic.

02:18At yan na, dahil may EBR tayo,

02:21dapat, menos-menos na rin ang paggamit ng plastic sa akin.

02:26In local region, state of ground environment, okay naman tayo, lalo na sa air.

02:31Okay.

02:32At sinabi ko nga na, tayo ang unang region, nakapag-designate tayo ng attainment area.

02:37So, ibig sabihin ng attainment area,

02:39ating na-attain pa natin yung quality of water na meron tayo, it's good.

02:43Good yun, no?

02:44Hindi fair.

02:45Pag nag-ano nga ang, ano, ang gulusan na ano namin, may no monitor.

02:51Meron pa rin good, pero meron pa rin fair.

02:53So, that is as far as air quality management is concerned.

02:57Sa water naman, namamonitor naman natin ang lahat ng bodies of water natin dito.

03:02Kung sa isang local government units ay nagkakaroon ng problema sila,

03:06ini-inform namin ang local government units on what to do.

03:10Kasi area nila yun eh.

03:12Ma'am, last, or few days ago, nagkaroon po ng massive fiscal in Camarines, Sur,

03:21because of water quality.

03:23So, maybe we know the quality of water in Bacol Ridge, bodies of water.

03:28Noon sa particular na area na yun.

03:30Yes, pa.

03:31Pinuntahan nyo lang demo namin yung aming provincial environment and management office,

03:36kasi satellite office namin yan na nandun sa pang Sur.

03:39Pagmamangan ka nun, para immediate ang pag-ano namin sa mga issues,

03:44pinuntahan ka agad nila yan.

03:46At because that is fiscal, diba?

03:48In coordination with the B-PAR.

03:50Tingnan natin kung ano ang reason kung bakit nagkaroon ng fiscal.

03:53Kung anong meron dyan.

03:55So, kinukuha pa namin ang retaliator sa fiscal na yun.

03:58But as far as quality of water is concerned, which is for the EMB naman.

04:02So, na-recommend na nila na kung maaari daw yung body of water na yun,

04:07dagat yata yun, hindi ko na matanda kung anong day.

04:10Kailangan daw yun na ay, in 2026,

04:14mabigyan ng assistance in the monitoring of water quality,

04:18which we are working right now,

04:20para na-include siya sa program natin ng 2025.

04:246 tons of garbage per day sa buong eco-recommend.

04:28But that is different, ano yan ha?

04:30Different municipalities.

04:31Kasi in every municipalities,

04:33nagagawa silang waste characteristic

04:35and waste analysis and characterization study.

04:40So, ibig sabihin, dun sa waste analysis and characterization study,

04:44it's a pie.

04:45It's a pie that will know how many percentage is bi-degradable

04:50and how many percentage are non-bi-degradable including plastic.

04:54Okay.

04:55So, the waste analysis and characterization study

04:58each says and it shows that 50% is bi-degradable.

05:03So, the remaining 50%, yun ang pag-aanuhan na natin.

05:06Dun sa remaining 50%, mga 14, 10-14 is the plastic.

05:12Kasi malaming pang iba.

05:14May cardboard, may paper, may metals, whatsoever.

05:20May mga classic-classy yun.

05:42May mga classic-classy yun ang pag-aanhan na natin.

05:59May mga classic-classy yun ang pag-aan.

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