I hail the Philippine Daily Inquirer for making environment its editorial today – the World Environment Day. The editorial urges President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be sincere in his pronouncements of our responsibility to preserve the Earth for future generations. The Philippines is still wanting of a “coherent, holistic climate change agenda”, a year after he took this up in his first State of the Nation address. It will be easy to craft the needed agenda since the Philippines have “excellent environmental laws”. The President can use his current power as President and his political capital to enjoin the whole nation in strategic actions towards achieving the agenda goals specifically ecosystem restoration.

The theme of this year’s observance of the World Environment Day is #BeatPlasticPollution. The Philippines ranks third in the world in terms of contribution to plastic waste (http://www.ateneo.edu/news/2022/07/18/face-plastic#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20the%20Philippines%20is%20considered,of%20ocean%20plastic%20every%20year). About 20% of the plastic waste ends up in the ocean and harms marine life. A recent study by the students of Mindanao State University confirmed the presence of microplastics in Metro Manila air. Microplastics are tiny particles about the size of a sesame seed (https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html#:~:text=Plastic%20debris%20can%20come%20in,)%20are%20called%20%E2%80%9Cmicroplastics.%E2%80%9D). They mix with dust and other tiny particles in the air. Because of their toxic chemical content, they are a threat to humans and animals that may even lead to death if ingested.

As a corporation, a non-government organization, an academic institution, a group and an individual, we can have our share in finding solutions to the global environmental problem. No matter how little, our share will still create a ripple that matters. I-LRN Enterprise reduces, reuses and recycles waste materials and strictly follows environmental laws and ordinances while advocating environmental protection and restoration. Its founder and owner recycles the cans of a plant-based nutritional product into a multi-use container by painting the exterior and pasting stickers on environmental care and restoration (#EnsureGold). His artist son converts the plastic cover into a radical wearable art. (Please see photos below.)