Educate the poor on responsible disposal of ‘tingi,’ plastics

I read Ceres Doyo’s article ‘“Tingi’/sachet nation” (Human Face, 7/15/22) with great interest as I believe this is a critical issue for the Philippines on many levels, (declaration of interest: I’m a foreigner living here).

Tax/legislation/pricing can change behavior, such as in plastic bag use in supermarkets. However, sometimes real need means citizens just have to suck it up, such as the case with rising prices of gas and diesel. I also believe the tax on single-use plastics falls into the latter, and it is the poor who will pay the most, thus, worsening poverty, and will do nothing to reduce environmental impact.

The wealthy and the elite suffer the least from the environmental deprivation of the Philippines and so I feel it is often the case of “out of sight, out of mind.” It is the poor who bear the brunt.

Whilst I agree manufacturers must strive to innovate to provide eco-friendly packaging, we should understand that they are meeting a poverty economy market demand. In my home country of the United Kingdom, these small sachets are hardly seen but are ubiquitous in the Philippines.

Nevertheless, consumers must be made to take responsibility. I was in a tricycle with a young Filipino in the provinces who tossed her empty soft drink can out. When I remonstrated with her about disposing of her trash responsibly, she said it didn’t matter as corruption was the problem and nothing would change for the poor neighborhoods. I responded that this was an easy get-out excuse and that if every citizen disposed of their trash responsibly it would make a massive difference.

Near my house, there is a beach and it is regularly full of trash. We spend hours each week collecting the trash, easily filling six large bags, but within days, it is there again. This trash is not dropped by the few visitors to the beach but washed up by the ocean from places far away.

A local fisherman saw me collecting trash on the beach after the typhoon last December and congratulated me. He was collecting bamboo poles that had been washed up. I, then, saw him cut the nylon cord from the poles and throw it into the sea. I went up to him and pointedly asked if he would like me to take it to which he affirmed, totally oblivious!

I gave some young children some candies and was despairing when they simply dropped the wrappers on the ground.

The point is, I believe, education, education, education. Educating the poor that responsible disposal betters their own environment, which betters their lives, health, and local economy. If they live in the right area for tourism, ultimately it will massively improve their lives as foreign tourists will pay well to stay in nice, clean places.

I have been to some areas where the locals understand this and have taken positive action; but they are very much in the minority.

One of the biggest turn-offs for Western tourists is trash on the beach or in the water.

I could go on. Another very relevant factor is population growth—contentious, I know.

Martin M-C