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The Philippine Ports Authority reiterates ban on all single-use plastics at all ports under its jurisdiction
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The order is contained in PPA Memorandum Circular No. 11-2021
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The compliance is also in keeping with the theme of the 2022 National Maritime Week Celebration: “New Technologies for Greener Shipping”
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is reiterating a ban on all single-use plastics at all ports under its jurisdiction.
PPA Officer in Charge-General Manager Francisquiel O. Mancile stressed all port managers across its 25 Port Management Offices must strictly PPA Memorandum Circular No. 11-2021. This is also in keeping with the theme of the 2022 National Maritime Week Celebration: “New Technologies for Greener Shipping”.
Mancile noted PPA has been implementing since last year the ban on single-use plastics, which does not only cover use and entry in ports but also in all facilities and offices under the agency.
“While we do not impose any fine or penalty to erring passengers, stakeholders, and employees, we are confiscating these kinds of materials for proper disposal,” Mancile said.
PPA Memorandum Circular No. 11-2021 follows the National Solid Waste Management Commission Resolution No. 1363 dated 12 February 2020 directing a ban on unnecessary use of single-use plastic products in government agencies and is seen as a major leap to reduce the use of single-plastic items from polluting waterways, kill marine life and further increase the country’s solid waste.
The ban includes plastic cups thinner than 0.2 millimeters, plastic drinking straws, plastic spoons, plastic forks, plastic knives, plastic coffee stirrers, and plastic labo and thinned-filmed sando bags thinner/lighter than 15 microns.
PPA earlier partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines on the same initiatives involving three PPA ports—the North Port, Port of Batangas, and Port of Cagayan de Oro—in a bid to reduce plastic leakage at the said ports by 50% by 2023.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), under the maritime sector of the Department of Transportation, expressed readiness to impose similar initiatives in their areas of jurisdiction.
The PCG said they will levy heavy fines and penalties on personnel found violating the ban. At the same time, the MARINA will look into further strengthening the regulation imposed on local ships.
