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MANILA, Philippines – A marine conservation group has commended the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) for its campaign towards a plastic-free community, pledging its support to the initiative.
Oceana Philippines commended UPD on Monday after the latter developed the “Roadmap to Plastic-Free UP Diliman,” which contains short to long term goals which would guide the university to reduce its reliance on single-use plastics.
“It is a much welcome initiative, and should inspire the UP System, all other educational institutions, national agencies, local government units, and the private sector, particularly those in the packaging industry to follow suit,” said Oceana Philippines Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos.
Oceana has long advocated for the reduction of plastic, having urged the National Solid Waste Management Commission to fulfill its mandate and create a list of non-environmentally acceptable products.
The marine conservation group has pledged its support to UPD’s campaign, saying that they “are happy to reach out to UP for collaboration and support, in its transition towards a plastic-free campus.”
Roadmap to Plastic-Free UP Diliman
The plastic-free campaign was announced in a memorandum from UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo on September 14.
“Given our long-standing reliance on single-use plastics, we recognize the need for a practical and just transition, to be guided by the ‘Roadmap to Plastic-Free UP Diliman’,” said Nemenzo in the memorandum.
Nemenzo described the campaign as a “community-wide effort towards a plastic-free campus, where single-use plastic is banned from its premises to the extent possible.”
According to Nemenzo’s memorandum, UPD is composed of 30,000 people who contribute to plastic pollution. He emphasized the harmful effects of plastic on the environment is well known and must be reduced.
Spearheading the campaign is the Office of the Chancellor and the UPD Task Force on Environmental Sustainability, said Nemenzo.
“As part of the campaign, they will be organizing consultations and activities with food providers, student organizations, non-academic and academic units, community groups, among others,” said Nemenzo.