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By Peter Paul Duran
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O words ring true other than the following in our ever-growing world – plastic pollution has become a global epidemic. In truth, people throw away plastic waste each year that could encircle the earth four times over! What doesn’t ends up in our already brimming landďŹ lls ultimately reaches our oceans, thereby affecting more biodiversity and natural resource. The alarming part is that plastic waste is responsible for killing up to 1M seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals every year, but the saddening part to all this is that those numbers compose only a measly amount compared to the devastating and long-term effect (think 1000 years per piece) each plastic waste we throw away. In the Philippines, numerous stakeholders have gradually adapted measures to become less reliant on plastic products. Local government units in the country, especially in Metro Manila, have passed and are now Turn to C2
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implementing ordinances banning the use of plastic bags. Malls, supermarkets, and retail establishments have shunned the use of plastic bags as well and have encouraged people to use “eco bags” while putting your purchase in a paper bag (you know, just like how they do it in the movies). Restaurants and fast food chains have also pitched in, replacing disposable cups with paper ones and offering stainless utensils for every dine-in meal. Large manufacturing companies, especially in the food industry, have also opted to replace plastic packaging on their products with biodegradable material. And it’s high time to do so, as a recent report suggests Pasig River is one of the biggest contributors of plastic waste in the world. According to the Ocean Conservatory, the Philippines is part of five nations producing as much as 60% of waste found in seas worldwide! So, for the good of the planet and the benefit of all living organisms in the face of the earth, it’s time to rethink how we use plastic. It’s time to lock arms and join forces to beat plastic pollution! Here are some of the interesting facts about plastic pollution and ways how we can beat it through this infographic from United Nations Environment Program.
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NTENSE rainfall persisting over days, droughts threatening the farmlands and the farmers’ livelihood, continuously rising sea levels and alarming flashfloods – these are only some of the negative effects that the mankind has done to put the foundation of all life on Earth in the danger zone. Facing climate change Every day, our planet’s diversity of life is being threatened as climate change brings an imminent danger to the places, species and people that we care about. It has become the biggest environmental challenge that the new generation has to face with. Because of our inconsiderate actions towards nature, the Earth’s atmosphere is warming faster than before. Manmade activities such as the excessive burning and use of fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive livestock farming, and industrial processes build up the greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the usual weather patterns are now changed. In the Philippines, Filipinos appear to neglect such environmental struggles. And as a result, drastic weather changes in the country bring various diseases such as malaria, dengue, and even severe colds. Tropical typhoons are also expected to be more catastrophic than Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). And by 2020, the temperature will rise by 0.9°C to 1.1°C. The ocean surface warms as it absorbs heat from the sun. The ocean, in return, releases some of the heat into the atmosphere, producing wind and rain clouds above the surface. However, as the ocean’s temperature drastically increases because of climate change, a lot of heat is released into the atmosphere. This additional heat generates stronger and more frequent storms – which is exactly what environmentalists have observed in the
country for over a decade. Companies’ help to the environment Starbucks is one of those firms that care for the environment as it comes up with strategies on tackling climate change. According to the known coffee shop, farmers are reporting shifts in rainfall and harvest patterns that affect their livelihood, not to mention the increased soil erosion and infestation by pests. “Addressing climate change is a big priority for Starbucks. We believe now is the time to increase our investments in solutions and strategies that address this crisis. The steps we’re taking not only address our environmental footprint – they help to ensure the supply of high-quality coffee that our customers expect from us into the future,” said Starbucks on its website. The American coffee company has been implementing a climate change strategy since 2004, focusing on renewable energy, energy conservation and collaboration, and advocacy. “We are working to significantly shrink our environmental footprint by conserving energy and water, reducing the waste associated with our cups, increasing recycling and incorporating green design into our stores,” said Starbucks. “Gulp instead of sip. Think of the environment,” said American fast food giant KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in its mission to support the no-plastic campaign. Improper disposal of garbage, caused by plastic items and straws, is one of the many causes why the Philippines expe-
riences severe flooding. There has been reports online where even turtles were affected by plastic straws. Meanwhile, by collecting and recycling 100 percent of its plastic bottles, the Coca-Cola company announced last Jan. 20 that it will reshape its approach to packaging by 2030. “This goal is the centerpiece of the company’s new packaging vision for a ‘World Without Waste,’ which the CocaCola system intends to back with a multiyear investment that includes ongoing work to make packaging 100-percent recyclable,” the company said in a report. The known soda provider worldwide said that it is investing dollars and skills to design better bottles “whether through more recycled content, by developing
plant-based resins, or by reducing the amount of plastic in each container.” Coca-Cola Philippines is supporting the group called Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability. Meanwhile, Ayala Land Inc., the property development arm of the Ayala Group, is dedicating nearly 500 hectares of its planned carbon forests to its project. In line with the plans to augment the company’s total carbon emission reduction by 20 percent year-on-year, the ALI chose five different sites in the country, covering a total of 450 hectares, to serve as “carbon forests.” This forest regeneration and preservation plan also implements the passive cooling design in energy efficiency and renewable energy sourcing to reach carbon neutrality.
The five sites are in Lio in Palawan, Sicogon in Iloilo, Alaminos in Laguna, Kan-Irag in Cebu and Talomo in Davao. With all the environmental setbacks happening in the country, the Philippines remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. But if we work together and start executing the plan like what the mentioned companies have done, then maybe we can all make a difference. Sources: http://www.starbucks.ph/responsibility/environment/climatechange https://businessmirror.com.ph/coca-cola-bares-recyclingproject/ https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/climate-change https://www.ecowatch.com/how-is-climate-change-affectingthe-philippines-1882156625.html http://www.philstar.com/business/2018/02/01/1783259/aliallots-450-hectares-carbon-neutrality
Hordes of trash and garbage pile up at the Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard during a storm surge- an adverse effect of climate change.
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waste-free By Angelica Villanueva
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HE planet where we live today is already in its endangered phase.
knees being sorry for destroying our With various environmental is- surroundings. sues that destroy our water and land Manila Bay along Roxas Blvd. is a resources, we will soon be on our murky body of water filled with trash
and human and animal excreta. The same is true of the Pasig River, which may be considered as one of the most contaminated rivers in the country. But all hope is not lost. The Philippine government and its local government units, together with several organizations and private companies are doing their best to conserve our environment. A primary example is Boracay. One
over the world are taking the steps for a better world. Green Cities Makati and Pasig are making their cities environment-friendly, teaching their citizens the value of discipline by positioning their trash bins (labeled non-biodegradable and biodegradable) in every street corner and in front of fast-food chains. Though there are still people who cannot discipline themselves by throwing their trash any
There are many unique ways that you can reuse plastic bottles such as DIY irrigation storage for urban farming (Above), quirky pencil cases (Above right), or as cute ornaments for your desk (below right).
LISTED Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and its dockworkers planted nearly 1,000 trees at the La Mesa Watershed over the weekend, sustaining its commitment to protect and preserve Metro Manila’s last natural forest cover and source of potable water. ATI’s employee volunteers trekked three kilometers into the forest reserve located in Novaliches, Quezon City to plant endemic narra and bignay saplings across a two hectare area. Coinciding with the GO GREEN global environmental campaign of its foreign shareholder partner DP World, ATI’s annual tree planting initiative helps revitalize La Mesa’s critical
ecosystem. The activity also gives employees an opportunity to be in commune with nature as the play an active role in protecting the environment. As a responsible port operator, ATI follows global standards on environment management aligned with its ISO 14001:2007 certification. Apart from tree planting, ATI also spearheads coastal cleanup drives in partnership with likeminded companies, government agencies and other port stakeholders. To date, ATI has protected over 20 hectares of the forest reserve and planted nearly 25,000 trees since the start of its institutional partnership with ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan back in 2001.
of the world’s most-visited tourist spots, Boracay Island was shut down and is currently undergoing a rehabilitation for six months on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte, who believes that this is the best way to restore the damaged forests and wetlands of the island paradise. More than this action, a lot of nongovernment organizations and private sectors are also raising the alarm for everyone to open their minds and face the reality that the world needs our help. In this year’s World Environment (WE) Day, the main goal this time is to eradicate the plastic scourge with its theme: Beat the Plastic Pollution. Living in a plastic-free world Plastics are convenient to use, yet is very dangerous to the environment In an article written by the Greener Ideal, it was emphasized that “They (plastic bags) get into soil and slowly release toxic chemicals. They eventually break down into the soil, with the unfortunate result being that animals eat them and often choke and die.” Three years ago, a video posted on Facebook trended and served as a warning to all that the use of a straw, yes, a piece of a straw, can be very dangerous to sea turtles. A group of researchers doing some data collection about sea turtles found an Olive Ridley turtle having a hard time breathing due to a straw being stuck on its nostril. The team spent 10 minutes removing the straw from the nose of the turtle and when they did, blood dripped from the nose of the poor animal. Meanwhile, Chile became the first South American country to ban retail businesses from using plastic bags, an initiative aimed at protecting the country’s 4,000-mile coastline. “We have taken a fundamental step to take better care of Chile and the planet. Today, we are more prepared to leave a better planet to our children, grandchildren and the generations to come,” said President Sebastián Piñera, who expanded the scope of a bill introduced last year by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, that sought to prohibit the use of plastic bags in more than 100 coastal towns. This proves that governments all
which way they like, the LGUs’ action has helped raise the awareness of its residents and the youth to become more responsible with their garbage disposal. The said cities have also banned the use of plastic. Meanwhile, Baguio and Cebu have also taken the initiative of reducing the use of plastic bags. In 2007, a local law called as ‘The Bayong Ordinance’ prohibits private businesses from using plastic bags and containers and instead encourages the use of a recyclable bag made of bayong or cloth. Private companies Last year, a private company has launched an advocacy that has helped and taught the residents of Manila, Pasig and Taguig to keep their soft plastic wastes such as sachets, tetra packs and chips’ plastic waste on their pockets. Unilever Philippines Vice President for Sustainable Business and Communications Ed Sunico shared the advocacy “Misis Walastik Program,” which prompted members of the household to collect their soft plastic wastes. In return, Unilever Philippines gave them incentives, such as a coupon worth P5.00 for every one kilo of these plastic wastes. The coupons can be used to purchase Unilever products. Meanwhile, two of the leading fast-food chains in the Philippines, Jollibee and McDonald’s, have also shown their support by banning plastic straws. Jollibee branches in local cities prohibit the use of plastic straw for their beverages. Meanwhile, McDonald’s branches in Makati have shown their support by having paper-made straws for their floats and drinks. SM Supermall has also shown some initiatives as they encourage their customers to use ecobags instead of plastic bags when shopping, offering a fashionable yet functional ecobag made of durable, non-woven fabric. A collective effort is needed to sustain the gains made by LGUs and private firms. If we are to save this world from the plastic scourge, then it’s high time we became eco warriors not just for ourselves, but to our children’s future as well.
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As it develops sustainable mixed-use estates, Ayala Land supports activities that raise awareness for the environment. At Seagrove, its leisure estate in Mactan, volunteers united for ‘Paddle for the Planet’ to highlight the importance of protecting the ocean.
Ayala Land’s Seagrove ‘paddles for the planet’
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ADDLERS across Cebu united for the annual “Paddle for the Planet” movement in the mangrove shores of Seagrove, Ayala Land’s leisure estate in Mactan, Cebu last June 2.
that will be developed into to a sustainable mixed-use estate. It is envisioned to be a future tourist and eco fun destination given its varied outdoor recreation components. In line with Ayala Land’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability, Vera Alejandria, Division Manager of Com-
munity Relations, CSR and Sustainability also shared: “We are extremely grateful to all the hardworking volunteers who share our passion and took part in cleaning up our shores. With our natural ecosystems as the first line of defense against extreme weather conditions, we all have a responsibility to be aware and be involved, to help shape the market in terms of protecting and conserving our marine and coastal ecosystem.” Paddlers were welcomed with a short program before taking off to the waters for the paddling and surface clean up activity. Some of the topics discussed during the event include practicing responsible recreation, reducing the use of plastic that usually end up in our oceans, and opportunities to volunteer in clean-ups. All of these efforts are considered important to climate resilience and to raise the standard of sustainable living in the communities where we are present. Participating in this event is one of Ayala Land’s ways to express Alagang Ayala Land, the company’s commitment to social development and environmental stewardship.
Paddle for the Planet is a global event inviting paddlers around the world for one official day to paddle. This is an effort to raise environmental awareness by giving back to our oceans. Buzzy Budlong, a renowned Visayan paddler and owner of Island Buzz Philippines, was one of the volunteers and organized this paddling and coastal clean-up event. “This was a very fun way for us to give back to our oceans. It was such a great experience to paddle around the mangroves since they are very important to our ecosystem and this is something unique to Seagrove. We hope we made an impact in our own way to spread the word on the importance of protecting our oceans,” Budlong said. Seagrove is a 14-hectare coastal project
Globe, Hineleban Foundation lead advocacy to replenish remaining 1.5% primary rainforests in PH THE Philippines is blessed with natural resources the rest of the world could only marvel at. Our flora and fauna could be seen anywhere, under our pristine seas, among the highest peaks of our mountains, even deep inside our thick rainforests. Considered as a melting pot of plant and animal species, the Philippines does not shy away from the various mentions of historians, scientists, and biologists of yore, on how this country of many islands in the South East have been favored with many natural gifts. If only the same could still be said today. The Philippine rainforests that were once haven for biodiversity in this part of the world, has rapidly declined and suffering a dwindling state. In fact, according to recent numbers, only 1.5% of the Philippine Primary Rainforest cover remains, and majority is located in Mindanao. Data from the National Forest Management Bureau shows that forest cover in the Philippines declined from 21 million hectares, or 70% of its land area in 1900 to about 6.5 million hectares in 2007. The conversion of forest cover in recent years had been going on in an alarming rate due to the burgeoning growth of agricultural plantations. Then again, poaching of trees in the remaining forests still prevail despite efforts from the government to arrest it.
Only 1.5% of our primary rainforest is left, majority of which is in Mindanao
The monumental loss of our prized natural resource could be attributed to numerous reasons, but the causes have not changed since we first read about it in elementary textbooks. Years of Kaingin fires due to slash and burn farming had its debilitating impact to our forest lands which according to the Philippine Forestry Statistics from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Forest Management Bureau number 15,805,325 hectares. Add to that, the rising number of human settlements in forest areas brought about by increasing population have converted lands which are naturally rainforest before.
Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s rainforestation efforts went underway in December 2016 and have vamped up this year which now covers 34 hectares
Filipinos can do something to lend a hand and sustain the 3,270,146 hectares of established forest reserves
The growth of argricultural plantations also contribute to the decline of primary forest cover
Rainforests have since then been converted into agricultural lands. Then again, the rampant and massive illegal logging activities have prevailed despite efforts from the government to ultimately halt such destructive act. Despite the almost dead numbers, there is still hope and Filipinos can do something to lend a hand and sustain the 3,270,146 hectares of established forest reserves. Go paperless. The act of receiving your monthly billing electronically rather than receiving a hard copy is one simple act to help. Buy sustainable products. Integrating your love for nature into your lifestyle is one way to contribute to the environment while reducing your environ-
mental footprint. Everyone can do their part. In fact, organizations like leading telecommunications company, Globe Telecom partnered with the Hineleban Foundation in advocating for a sustainable environment through an effective and scientific way to restore our primary rainforests. Hineleban Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization based in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The group is composed of individuals focused on the restoration of the environment and sustainable livelihood for the Indigineous People of Bukidnon, the Lumads, and the Bangsamoro people of Lanao del Sur, through Transforma-
tional Business Partnerships, with the objective of fostering peace through inclusive development. The foundation believes that “rainforestation” of the mountains of Mindanao is the only long-term solution to reducing the effects and risks of climate change and to attaining food self-sufficiency, bringing back three crop cycles per year. Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s rainforestation efforts went underway in December 2016 and have vamped up this year which now covers 34 hectares of Brazilian, Caribbean Pine trees, along with Almon, Bagtikan, Mayapis, Apitong, Red lauan, Palosapis, White lauan, Nato, and other indigenous tree species. As former Regional Executive Director of DENR Regions 6 and 10, Raoul T. Geollegue explains the choice of tree species in his article The Hineleban Restoration Approach, “Calliandra, Brazilian and Caribbean pine trees introduced here are simply interim in nature, but they serve the twin purpose of provid-
ing economic returns and ecological services which hastened forest restoration. When the interim tree species are harvested, what remains is an assemblage of trees with the floristic composition and canopy structure of a tropical rainforest, hence the term rainforestation.” In 2015, Globe also launched its paperless billing campaign to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land centered on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Today, its customers now have an option to simply receive their monthly billings via email. In this collective effort, customers can help plant one tree at a time, one tree back into our rainforests. For every P100 donation, you will be able to name your own tree, know its location via GPS and monitor its growth online! To donate, visit http:// hineleban.org/donate/.