Bicol launches ‘Bring Your Own Bote’ drive to fight plastic waste

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Bicol is promoting reusable bottles and containers to reduce plastic waste and advance sustainable waste management and a circular economy.

The initiative was launched on Wednesday through the “Bring Your Own Bote” (BYOB) campaign during the 2026 Environment and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Summit in Naga City.

Spearheaded by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Bicol, in partnership with the Naga City government and food giant NutriAsia Inc., the summit brought together government officials, industry representatives, and environmental stakeholders to promote plastic waste reduction.

READ: DENR 2040 target: Cut plastic waste by 85%Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations and Line Bureaus,  emphasized the need to understand the importance of environmental protection, sustain commitment through shared responsibility, and translate pledges into concrete action.

He also stressed the role of environmental education, particularly among students and academic institutions, in encouraging sustainable practices and changing people’s behavior.

“Not all solutions begin with big projects. Sometimes, they start with simple practices that we collectively put into action,” said Francisco E. Milla Jr., DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director. 

He cited Republic Act No. 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, which requires covered enterprises to take responsibility for recovering and diverting their plastic packaging waste.

The summit also featured the signing of a cooperation agreement among the DENR, EMB, NutriAsia, Plastic Credit Exchange, and the Naga City government. 

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, EMB V Regional Director Geri-Geronimo R. Sañez, and other local officials and environmental stakeholders attended the event./coa