NIRATIPIKAHAN ng Senado noong Lunes ang bicameral conference committee report sa magkakasalungat na probisyon ng bills na nagtatakda sa mekanismo ng extended producers’ responsibility (EPR) sa waste plastic packaging.

Sa Senate plenary session,  isinulong ni Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson ng Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, ang ratification ng report sa Senate Bill No. 2425 at House Bill No. 10696.

Sinabi ni Villar na sa ilalim ng bill, gagawing institusyunado ang EPR bilang practical policy approach sa mas epektibong waste management.

“The proposed legislation focuses on waste reduction, recovery and recycling and the development of environment-friendly products that advocates the internationally-accepted principle on sustainable consumption and production, circular economy and producers’ full responsibility throughout the life cycle of their products,” ani Villar sa kanyang sponsorship speech.

Ipinahayag ni Villar na itinatakda  ng EPR  na magtatag ang malalaking  enterprises o obliged enterprises ng phase-in programs sa  plastic packaging ng kanilang mga produkto para  sa mas epektibong pangangasiwa  ng plastic packaging waste at mabawasan ang  production, importation, supply o paggamit ng plastic packaging.

“The obliged enterprises may voluntarily organize themselves to form or authorize a producer responsibility organization for the purpose of establishing a viable platform to implement their EPR program,” ani Villar.

Sa ilalim ng  reconciled version ng dalawang bills, may target dates sa recovery ng plastic product footprint mula sa nakaraang taon mula sa effectivity  nito gaya ng sumusunod:
• 20 percent sa  December 31, 2023;
• 40 percent sa December 31, 2024;
• 50 percent sa December 31, 2025;
• 60 percent sa December 31, 2026;
• 70 percent sa December 31, 2027;
• 80 percent sa December 31, 2028; at sa susunod na kada taon.

Dahil dito, kinakailangan ding magsumite ng obliged enterprises sa  Department of Environment and Natural Resources ng report ng kanilang  compliance kabilang ang nararapat na documentation. (ESTONG REYES)