RD Guillermo A. Molina, Jr. IV has issued on February 26, 2020 Office Memorandum addressed to all Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. V (MGB R.O.-V) employees prohibiting the use of single-use plastic in MGB R.O.-V premises and activities in line with National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Resolution no. 1363 series of 2020, which directs the DENR to prepare and implement the ban on the use of single-use plastic products in national government agencies, local government units and all government offices.

In this Memorandum, RD Molina reiterated that single-use plastic refers to “unnecessary” single-use plastic such as: cups less that 0.2 millimeter in thickness, drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, “labo” or thin and translucent plastic bags, and thin-filmed sando bags lower that 15 microns.

Another MGB R.O.-V Memorandum dated October 2, 2018 requires all Division Chiefs to submit their Solid Waste Management Programs to the Solid Waste Management Team created under MGB R.O.-V SO no. 2018-106 dated September 11, 2018 for consolidation, review and implementation.

Finally, RD Molina enjoins mining companies in the Region to implement the objectives of RA 9003 and Solid Wastes Management Memorandum Circular no. 1363m series of 2020 in their respective Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program, Environmental Work Program and Solid Waste Management Programs.

This is one of the major steps to curb the use of single-use plastic items that would clog/pollute our waterways, kill marine life and contribute to our country’s increasing solid waste.