PUBLIC HEARING ON REGULATION ON USE OF PLASTIC

BAHA Says: Regulation on Plastics Use Good Bill But Needs Strict Enforcement

By Carla N. Cañet

The Anti BAHA Council participated in the public hearing conducted by Councilor Greg Gasataya, Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment, Wednesday relative to his proposed Ordinance which will regulate the use of plastic bags/plastic cellophane (polyethylyne) as packing/bagging materials and institutionalizing the use of biodegradable containers within the City of Bacolod.

Mrs. Jean Trebol, Norman Campos, Agnes Jalandoni, Nena Rosello, Franklin Villanueva, Phoebe Mellizo, Tina Monfort, Rene Hinojales, Dionisio dela Cruz, SM Supermarket Supervisor Jonalyn Diaz, representatives from Lopue’s Department Store, among others.

The public hearing was conducted at the SP Session Hall Wednesday where they have discussed options and suggestions to be considered in the proposed Ordinance.

Mrs. Trebol said that the Ordinance is really beautiful because plastics are the culprit in clogging the drainage and waterways.

But the city should ensure the strict implementation of this Ordinance.

“No one can blame the people for feeling skeptical in the sincerity of government to enforce laws because local laws and even national laws are just piling up but most of it never reached enforcement,” she pointed out.

The government should see to it that the laws being made should be implemented and strictly enforced, she said. “We want to see heads roll if they fail to implement this bill.”

She also asked Councilor Gasataya to rate the city’s enforcement of the Solid Waste Management and if there are failures on the part of the local government on the enforcement, then be open to admit it.

Councilor Gasataya in response has admitted that there is a problem.

But they have started the efforts of truly involving the barangays in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management more particularly in waste segregation and proper waste disposal.

Mrs. Trebol said the barangays should be in the frontline insofar as Solid Waste Management implementation is concerned.. They are really in the first line of defense on this program.

The habit of indiscriminately throwing or disposing garbage is so entrenched and so deep, therefore the government should exert effort on how to discipline the people, make them feel concerned about the environment. The education should be sustainable, she said.

Gasataya said this involves a long process of educating the public that they have a part in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management.

Hinojales also suggested that the government should encourage the public to make cleaning and greening a habit especially in the barangays.

The government can inspire people from doing their share by providing either incentives to those who follow the law and penalizing those who violate it.

“We want to see a barangay that is truly clean and green,” he said.

Gasataya said that they will revive the Clean and Green competition in the barangay.

Mrs. Trebol said that cleaning and greening of their respective barangay should be a habit. Yes, there is a competition and incentives for those barangay which will participate. But they should not forget that the purpose of the competition is not to receive the prize but learn and value cleaning and greening. Make it a habit, he said.

Mr. Diaz, SM representative has informed the body that they have already plastics that are biodegradable.

This has, in fact, impressed those in the public hearing because nobody was aware of its existence.

However, the BAHA council is so keen in asking SM where it is sourced and if it is really biodegradable.

They got a sample of the biodegradable plastic from Mr. Diaz for them to test it if it’s really degradable.* (CNC)