Umaapela ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources na itapon ng maayos ang mga gamit na face masks para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.
Ayon kay Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, mahalaga ang responsableng pagtatapon ng gamit na face masks dahil maaaring magdulot ito ng panganib hindi lamang sa kalusugan ng tao kundi maging sa terrestrial at aquatic animals.
“Protection against COVID-19 goes beyond following the minimum health protocols and the use of face masks and face shields. Our responsibility extends to the disposal of these healthcare items which are potentially contaminated,” pahayag ni Cimatu.
“We have seen that while face masks protect us, these have become the newest threat to animal life because of entanglement, and have added up to marine litter,” pahayag ni Cimatu.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Local Government Units (LGU) Concerns Benny Antiporda, na isang COVID survivor, na mahalaga ang pakikibahagi ng bawat pamilya sa tamang paghihiwalay ng gamit na face masks sa ibang solid wastes.
“We never thought that these healthcare wastes will end up in our doorsteps. Before, these items are just found in operating rooms of hospitals. So, let’s put our used face masks in a separate container and properly label it as household healthcare wastes, even specifically indicating it as face masks,” pahayag ni Antiporda.