Villar lauds plastic producers for steps to reduce wastes

Sen. Cynthia Villar lauded the group of manufacturers for taking concrete steps to help solve the country’s solid waste problem.

Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, made this statement as she witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) President Commissioner Crispian Lao and Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez on the installation of a plastic waste recycling facility and research and development center in Bgy. La Huerta.

PARMS is a multi-stakeholder partnership and a multi-sectoral coalition composed of top corporations in the fast-moving consumer goods sector including Coca Cola FEMSA Philippines, Kopiko, Monde Nissin, Mondelez International, Nestle, Oishi, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Procter and Gamble, Unilever, and Universal Robina.

“You are all in the right track in integrating sustainability in your business strategies. I think that makes good business sense and our future generations will thank you for that,” Villar said.

Villar said in the light of a study indicating that the Philippines is the third largest producer of plastic waste in the ocean next to China and Indonesia, drastic steps should be taken to reduce plastic waste.

The reelectionist senator is pushing for the implementation of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) concept now being practiced in European countries to reduce waste.

EPR is an environmental protection strategy requiring the manufacturers using plastic materials in their packaging to be responsible in recovering the plastic wastes. It may take the form of reuse, buy-back or recycling program. The practice shifts the responsibility for waste management from government to the manufacturers.

VILLAR SIPAG’S RECYCLING EFFORTS SERVED AS INSPIRATION. Re-electionist Sen. Cynthia A. Villar says she is happy to learn that Villar SIPAG’s efforts to recycle plastic wastes into durable chairs had inspired the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) to estabish a recycling facility. The senator, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources said it is one of the many efforts in reducing wastes, particularly in poor communities. The senator, also known as Misis Hanepbuhay, was the guest speaker during the MOA signing between PARMS and the Paranaque City government. Aside from providing livelihood and giving jobs, the senator, who is among the frontrunners in the senatorial elections, has also been pushing for a clean and green environment.

Villar will also work for the amendment of the 19-year-old Solid Waste Management Act to make it more responsive to the changing times.

The establishment of the plastic waste recycling facility by PARMS was inspired by the efforts of Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) to recycle residual plastics into school chairs. The facility is set to be operational within the first quarter of 2019.

The plastic factory built by Villar in Las Pinas produces armchairs made with "soft plastics". These are made to look like wooden chairs with changeable parts and have a life span of 20 years. One school chair needs 20 kilos of soft plastics such as food wrappers to produce. These school chairs are donated to public schools all over the country.

Villar SIPAG plastics factories were also built in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro. Villar said her family will be donating a similar recycling factory in Marawi, to help in the city’s rehabilitation.

"Natutuwa tayo dahil marami ang magpa-participate sa recycling. Of course, we cannot do this alone. Everybody should participate. Sa bawat bayan na tutulong, malaking bagay," Villar said.

The MOA signing held at the Eden Room of Mondelez Philippines, Inc. in Paranaque was also witnessed by Rep. Gus Tambunting; Atul Kulkarni, Mondelez Plant Head; Bert Guevarra, PARMS Vice President; and Bernie Amurao, head of City Environment and Natural Resources Office- Paranaque.

A ceremonial turnover of Green Antz Eco-brick installations to the 7 pilot beneficiary schools was also held with the principals and representatives of Colonel E. de Leon Elementary School, Don Galo Elementary School, Paranaque Central Elementary School, Paranaque Cemntral Unit II, San Dionisio Elementary School, and Sto. Nino Elementary School.