Revolutionize waste management through circular economy—Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has urged the public to grab the opportunity to revolutionize waste management through the circular economy approach.

Speaking at the Coffee Club Forum sponsored by Business Mirror at the Bellevue Manila, Villar said one of these initiatives was called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Villar authored RA No. 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022.

“The EPR Act mandates large enterprises to take responsibility for the proper and effective recovery, recycling, or disposal of the plastic packaging used on their products after they have been sold and used by consumers,” Villar said.

“The goal is to cut down non-environmentally friendly packaging, boost recycling, and promote effective waste recovery to mitigate environmental pollution,” she added.

According to the senator, the EPR law presents an opportunity to “dramatically reduce plastic waste and facilitate our transition toward a circular economy.”

She said implementation of the EPR Act “is a step in the right direction.” groundbreaking rite for three contract packages of the South Commuter Railway.

The senator noted that long before the concept of ‘circular economy’ became popular, “its principles were already at the heart of their waste management practices.

He said the rail infrastructure would “open the gates for the renaissance of the railway industry in the Philippines.”

The project, co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank, aims to connect Clark, Pampanga in the north and Calamba, Laguna in the south by linking Metro Manila to its neighboring provinces, reducing travel time from four to fourand a half hours to less than two hours, with an estimated commuter volume of 600,000 daily.

“Residents and communities who have noticed the railway’s massive construction have pinned their hopes on a comfortable, affordable, safe and efficient commute—a striking contrast to the deteriorating road traffic that has spilled over to north and south of Metro Manila,” Bautista said.

MILF, gov’t renew Bangsamoro pact

THE peace implementing panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have renewed their commitment to the implementation of the nine-year-old Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Their meeting on July 1 was the first between the two panels during the Marcos administration, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said in a statement over the weekend.

The parties, in a joint statement, signed by GPH Peace Implementing Panel chair, Undersecretary Cesar Yano and MILF Peace Implementing Panel Minister Mohagher Iqbal announced the discussions of at least four key areas.

“First, the Implementing Panels expressed their sympathies to the bereaved families of seven MILF members who were killed during a law enforcement operation in Brgy. Damawato, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur on 18 June 2023. “ the statement said. Vince Lopez

Cavite lawmaker extols

Mr. Marcos

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has done an “impressive job in his first year in office, providing the country with a steady and reliable leadership in the face of difficult challenges,” said Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr.

“The President buckled down to work and took the bull by the horns, so to speak,” said Barzaga, a stalwart of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Barzaga said the Chief Executive was also able to restore decency in publicoffice,pointingoutthatMarcos“hasalways comported himself with dignity, exuding confidence.”

The senior lawmaker, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said Marcos has been a “consummate professional who has never let emotions get the better of him.” Maricel Cruz