Ipagbabawal na ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang mga plastic straw at panghalo ng kape sa bansa kasabay ng selebrasyon ng International Straw Free Day.
Sa isang pahayag nitong Miyerkules, sinabi ng DENR na isinama na ang naturang mga gamit sa listahan ng non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAP), matapos ang pagtalakay ng National Solid Waste Management Commission nitong Martes.
Sa ilalim ng Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 o Republic Act 9003, ang mga gamit na nasa NEAP ay ipagbabawal na.
"I am elated that after 20 years since the birth of RA 9003, the NEAP listing has now commenced,” ayon kay DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda.
“This is long overdue and we need to catch up with the demand of solid waste management in our country,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.
Ayon sa DENR, naipasa ang resolusyon sa kabila ng pagtutol ng ilang miyembro ng komisyon tulad ng Department of Trade and Industry, at mula sa manufacturing and recycling industries.
“We have long been fighting for and we are committed in having a NEAP list to comply with the law to combat environmental damage,” ayon kay Antiporda.
"The prohibition on these two single-use plastic items may be small steps in the NEAP listing, but it is a big leap when it comes to compliance with the provisions of RA 9003," dagdag pa niya. —FRJ, GMA News
