A NON-GOVERNMENT organization (NGO) based in Negros Occidental, through its Sweep: Sea Waste Education to Eradicate Plastic program, recently hosted the Plastic Waste Solutions Summit at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod.
The summit is aimed at celebrating the milestones of the project’s two-year implementation and recognize partners from local government units (LGUs), government agencies, civil society organizations, enterprises and communities in Negros and the country.
Sweep, implemented by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI), which is behind the Danjugan Island, under the USAID Municipal Waste Recycling Program, started in April 2018.
It aims to increase public awareness on marine plastic pollution and to work together with LGUs in implementing policies to improve solid waste management especially of plastic waste.
Throughout the project, Sweep conducted various initiatives such as community coastal clean-ups and waste audits, a mobile museum road tour, designing and launching Wala Usik Sari-Sari Stores, and helping craft public and private policies on improved solid waste management.
Environmental mover and Planet CORA founder Antoinette Taus hosted the one-day summit.
The PRRCFI, in a statement, said the activity featured best practices in solid waste management through presentations and exhibit, and facilitated the exchange of lessons learned, challenges and next steps through panel discussions.
Also, the team turned over information, education and communication (IEC) toolkits for partners, and sought commitment from partners to sustain the campaign for reducing plastic waste.
“As the project is coming to a close, the summit provided a meaningful climax for Sweep and its partners to sustain the work of reducing ocean plastic for cleaner seas and healthier fisheries,” it added.