NAPOLCOM LEADS THE WAY IN BANNING ONE-WAY PLASTICS

NAPOLCOM LEADS THE WAY IN BANNING ONE-WAY PLASTICS

I know that I am not dreaming, because it is as real as anything: one government agency has finally taken the bold step of banning the use of one-way plastics in all locations within its jurisdiction. That agency is none other than the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

This move deserves applause, because for once, an office of government did not wait for a new law or presidential directive. Instead, NAPOLCOM acted within its own authority and decided that the culture of plastic waste must stop—at least within its own walls. The order, signed by Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan, specifically bans plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, disposable cups, food containers, single-use water bottles, and plastic bags in meetings, trainings, and conferences. In their place, employees are encouraged to use refillable containers, eco-bags, and reusable utensils. A simple rule, yet powerful in its implications.

But here is my reasonable dream: would it be too much to ask NAPOLCOM to also ban one-way plastics in all areas where the Philippine National Police (PNP) has jurisdiction? After all, the PNP is under the supervision of NAPOLCOM. Imagine police precincts, stations, and even large camps nationwide becoming models of sustainability. Surely, law enforcers should also be “environment enforcers.”

And while we are dreaming, can we stretch our imagination further? NAPOLCOM’s chairman is also the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Couldn’t the DILG, by extension, ban single-use plastics within all its offices? That might sound modest but remember—the jurisdiction of the DILG extends to barangay halls, municipal halls, city halls, and provincial capitol buildings. What a multiplier effect that would be if local governments themselves set the example.

Now, why stop there? The DILG could encourage entire barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces to adopt the same policy. That would align beautifully with Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which already requires waste reduction at source. In fact, the National Solid Waste Management Commission passed Resolution No. 1363 in 2020, banning unnecessary single-use plastics in government offices. NAPOLCOM is only following through. But if they can do it, what’s stopping other agencies?

Let us dream even bigger. Could the august halls of Congress—the very body that passes laws—be free of plastic bottles and plastic cups? Would it be too hard for our lawmakers to bring their own tumblers and food containers, as ordinary office workers now do? Symbolism matters. Leadership matters.

The Office of the President itself has a campus along the Pasig River. What better place to demonstrate seriousness about environmental responsibility than in Malacañang? And if the President sets the tone, no agency will dare lag.

Schools and training institutions should not be left out either. The Department of Education (DEPED), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and TESDA all manage campuses where young people are shaped not just as learners, but as future citizens. If we want to cultivate a “culture of responsibility and sustainability,” as Commissioner Calinisan put it, then schools are the best place to start. Police and military camps, too, should follow—what better way to show discipline than in managing one’s own waste?

Let me emphasize: the Philippines already has policies pointing in this direction. House Bill 9147, passed by the House in 2021, proposes a phased ban on single-use plastics. Local governments like Quezon City, Pasig, and Siargao have already enacted their own ordinances. The framework is there. What is lacking is strict enforcement and, above all, leadership by example.

That is why I commend NAPOLCOM. Their decision may seem small, but it carries a message larger than themselves: government cannot continue with “business as usual” when it comes to plastic waste. Somebody must take the first step. Now that NAPOLCOM has shown the way, other agencies and LGUs must not only follow but outdo each other in showing how serious they are about protecting our environment.

If we can imagine it, we can achieve it. A Philippines free from the scourge of one-way plastics may begin with one agency, but it can spread to the whole of government—and eventually to the whole nation. For now, let’s applaud NAPOLCOM for making the first move, and let’s challenge everyone else to catch up.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

12-07-2025