THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has renewed its call for more than four million residents in Eastern Visayas to end the use of plastics.

“Since plastic was introduced, it killed our environment, choking our ocean, poisoning our water resources and food supply, and affecting our health and well-being (sic),” said DENR Regional Director Crizaldy Barcelo during Sunday’s (April 22) Earth Day celebration.

Barcelo said women should lead in the reduction of plastic use in the region, challenging them to observe zero plastic use in their homes.

“More often than not, it is you the women that goes to the supermarket, we challenge our women to promote the use of reusable eco-bags, refuse the use of plastic straw and encourage the members of your family to recycle the use of plastic,” he said.

“There is so much we can do to combat the increasing use of plastics as we have the power to recycle, reduce, reuse, refuse and remove,” he added.

Barcelo also challenged the youth to take an active part in protecting the environment by educating themselves about the negative effects to the environment of their lifestyle.

“As the backbone and the future of our nation, be part of this advocacy by educating yourselves on your lifestyle and activities that are harmful to our environment. I urge them to embrace change that promotes green and healthy environment. Channel your heart and mind to activities that would create new ideas and dramatically promote the reduction of waste in our environment,” he said.

On April 22, the DENR led a Jam for the Earth 2018 event at the Robinsons Place Tacloban as part of the Earth Day celebration with the theme “Green the cities, green the ocean and plastic pollution.”

The event was highlighted with a fashion show featuring dresses made of plastic materials and a mini-concert event featuring local singers. It aimed to encourage people to minimize using plastic that cause pollution and flooding.

Aside from the Jam for the Earth activity, the DENR also conducted coastal cleanup and tree planting participated by various stakeholders.

The celebration of Earth Day every April 22 aims to raise the level of awareness on the gravity of environmental degradation and destruction due to human’s careless activities. (PNA)