The Department of Health – Ilocos region started its phased implementation of the prohibition of the unnecessary use of single-use plastic by banning its use it all its health facilities in the region including DOH hospitals, provincial DOH offices, DOH-attached agencies, Philhealth, National Nutrition Council and Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care and all others concerned.
“Single use plastics do not decompose. They become plastic fragments that pollute our environment for years. This kinds of plastics are not biodegradable and when they are shred into tiny pieces they end up in canals, rivers, farmlands and eventually into the sea.”
“Ito ang major cause ng blockages sa ating sewerage at drainage systems lalo na kung tag-ulan. At ang pagsunog sa mga ito namn ang dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng air pollution mula sa mga toxic na lumalabas mula sa usok nito,” Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated.
The most common single-use plastic products (SUPs) includes plastic drinking straws, plastic cups, plastic drinking bottles plastic drink stirrers, plastic spoons, forks and knives, plastic and thin-filmed sando bags.
The regional office also encouraged residents and local government units to adopt the ban on the use of single plastics residents to minimize pollution in the environment and also to minimize the demand for plastic production that’s contributing to global climate change.
“We encouraged residents to be responsible in using plastic products to reduce all kinds of marine pollution. Proper disposal and management of plastic wastes must be done accordingly.”
“Importante na maging responsable tayo sa paggamit ng mga plastic products.
Maari rin tayong gumamit ng ibang alternatibo gaya ng paper bags at recyclable plastic bags sa pamimili upang maiwasan ang paggamit at pag-uwi ng maraming plastic bag mula sa palengke.”
“Reducing plastics pollution requires collective action and proactive collaboration among various sectors and stakeholders including LGUs and most important, the cooperation of every resident in the community”.
“Each of us must take part and play our respective roles in creating a plastic-free environment and policies that will support a plastic-free community”, Sydiongco emphasized.DOH-Ilocos Region Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco encourages local government units to also adopt the policy on the ban of single-use plastic as the health department is now on its phased implementation to eliminate its use in all health facilities in the region.
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