(Eagle News) – Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has called on all Filipinos to cut down on plastic use as the Philippines becomes one of the top five countries in the world that contribute to plastic waste in oceans.
Citing a United Nations report, Cimatu said the Philippines is one of top 5 contributors of plastic waste in the world’s oceans, accounting for about half of the total plastic leakage.
“We produce 2.7 metric tons of plastic waste every year,” Cimatu said.
“Following this trajectory of plastic production and mismanagement, UN reports predicted that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. Most plastics end up in the ocean and pose threat to marine life. In fact, some 8 million tons of plastic waste finds its way into the oceans every year.
“The task of reversing this issue is as big and wide as the ocean, but small actions can make a huge difference,” Cimatu said, as he urged people to become “stewards of marine life” by reducing plastics use.
The environment chief made the appeal as the nation joined the rest of the world in celebrating the World Wildlife Day 2019, which carries the theme: “Life below water: for people and planet.”
According to Ocean Conservancy, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year on top of the 150 million tons of plastic that already circulate in the ocean, contributing to loss of species and contamination of food chain.
Based on the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup report, cigarette butts, plastic bottles and caps, straws and stirrers, among other kinds of plastic bags, were some of the top items found.
The report also indicated that such wastes could harm 1 million seabirds, 100,000 sea mammals, marine turtles and countless fish annually due to ingestion and entanglement.