A Call to Action: Ending Plastic Pollution Starts with Us | People’s Press PH

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

In a world increasingly suffocated by plastic waste, it is heartening to witness communities rising together to reclaim their environment. The recent plogging activities in Zamboanga City and Pagadian City, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in celebration of World Environment Day, serve as more than just clean-up operations they are a powerful symbol of civic responsibility and environmental consciousness.

Over 180 participants in Zamboanga and more than 100 in Pagadian laced up their shoes and took to the streets, collecting a combined 120 sacks of litter. These events walking or jogging while picking up trash may seem simple, even small-scale. But in a country drowning in single-use plastics and with rivers and oceans bearing the brunt of waste mismanagement, such acts matter. Tremendously.

The theme this year, "Ending Global Plastic Pollution," is not merely a slogan. It is a cry for help. A warning. A challenge. And what we witnessed in these cities is an answer a declaration that Filipinos are not just bystanders in this crisis but willing and active stewards of their environment.

But let us be clear: one-day events, however noble, will not solve the problem. Plogging must be more than an annual show of force. It must become a culture, integrated into our daily lives and supported by local governments, private institutions, and schools.

Equally important, the national government must match the people’s enthusiasm with decisive policy actions ban non-biodegradable plastics, invest in waste recovery facilities, and enforce laws against illegal dumping. The DENR deserves praise for these initiatives, but long-term change requires systemic reforms and strong political will.

At the heart of it all, however, lies the power of people. When citizens care, when communities move, when youth, students, and workers walk hand-in-hand picking up what others carelessly discarded that is democracy in its purest, greenest form.

Let the sacks of garbage collected not just be a symbol of what we removed, but of what we can achieve. A cleaner tomorrow starts with every small act today.

And so, we urge every Filipino: make every day World Environment Day. Our future depends on it.

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail