Circular Explorer (Photo from Facebook of Senator Cynthia Villar)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar has expressed hopes that the Circular Explorer, a solar-powered recycling catamaran, will help preserve the country’s natural resources.
Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, made the remark during the launching of the vessel by Holcim Group and One Earth One Ocean at the Manila Yacht Club on July 7.
“As an active proponent of recycling and responsible waste management, I am confident that the Circular Explorer will be effective in promoting recycling and raising awareness on responsible consumption and production that will have lasting benefits for us and the environment,” Villar was quoted as saying in a press release on Thursday.
The Circular Explorer is a solar powered recycling catamaran that seeks to promote sustainable practices by recovering and recycling plastic wastes from coastal areas.
She likewise renewed her call for responsible consumption and production which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Villar said the Philippines is committed to these goals in order to boost the developing countries’ scientific, technological and innovative capacities to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
The senator noted that the shift to circular living has been endorsed by governments globally and is gaining ground.
“I think this circular model will help our existing efforts in waste management here in the Philippines as it has in other countries,” Villar said.
“The circular model is about keeping resources in circulation or in the loop for as long as possible. So, it means there will be lesser and eventually no more plastic wastes ending in landfills or reaching our seas and polluting our water sources,” she added. – Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net intern