Senator urges Filipinos to act on environmental laws

Senator Loren Legarda has called on Filipinos to transform environmental policies into sustained community action in observance of National Clean-up Month this September.

The nationwide campaign, declared under Proclamation No. 244 s. 1993 and reinforced by Presidential Proclamation No. 470 s. 2003, also designates the third Saturday of the month as International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day in the Philippines.

“As the principal author and principal sponsor of the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729), and author and principal sponsor of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003), I have seen that laws only bring real change when people embrace them,” Legarda said.

“This September, let us rise to the challenge. Protecting our environment demands more than compliance; it requires unity, urgency, and daily commitment. Let us turn this moment into a movement toward a cleaner and more resilient Philippines,” she added.

Legarda cited data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), noting that the country generates approximately 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily.

Between 12 to 24 percent of that waste is plastic, with each Filipino consuming an average of 20 kilograms of plastic annually—15.4 kilograms of which ends up as waste.

This consumption level has made the Philippines the world’s top contributor to ocean plastic pollution, accounting for around 36 percent of global marine waste.

In a one-day effort last year, the ICC removed 352,479 kilograms of trash from 250 coastal sites nationwide.

“These numbers are visible scars,” Legarda warned. “Flooding and mass displacement are no longer isolated events; these are symptoms of clogged waterways, deforested uplands, and years of poor waste management. The effects of pollution and climate change are not distant threats; they are happening in the present and are costing Filipino lives.”

To strengthen enforcement, Legarda renewed her push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1250, which proposes the creation of an Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) under the DENR.

The EPEB would be responsible for monitoring environmental violations, particularly involving hazardous hospital waste and industrial pollution.

She also highlighted Senate Bill No. 1251, the Philippine Environmental Assessment System Act, which aims to modernize environmental governance through a three-part mechanism.

The proposed law introduces Strategic Environmental Assessments for government policies, Environmental Impact Assessments for projects, and Health Impact Assessments in line with the Universal Health Care Act.

Together, these reforms seek to embed a science-based, preventive, and health-centered approach into environmental decision-making.

“Legislation alone won’t solve our environmental challenges,” Legarda emphasized. “We need public participation, local innovation, and sustained community action. As we mark National Clean-up Month and ICC Day or any environmental awareness initiative, I urge my fellow Filipinos to treat these events not as one-time activities but as catalysts for lasting change.”

“Environmental laws are not just words on paper; they are tools for transformation. Let us deepen our commitment to bridge policy and practice, not just this September, but every day. The real change begins when we take ownership of the laws meant to protect us,” Legarda concluded.