Anti-plastic drive in Mandaue

MCENRO to deploy enforcers to monitor violators with tomorrow’s full implementation

STARTING tomorrow, the Mandaue City Government will start fully implementing the plastic ban ordinance.

Last July 19, Mayor Luigi Quisumbing announced the implementation of the anti-plastic ordinance. The Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO), though, hasn’t started giving out citations.

The MCENRO will be deploying enforcers to monitor market vendors, business establishments and manufacturers to make sure the ordinance is observed.

Plastic waste has been identified as one of the major causes of heavy flooding, and the City Government is implementing the ordinance in the hope of minimizing floods in the city.

Vendors and big establishments will be fined P500 for each violation, or face five days’ imprisonment, if they continue to use plastics.

MCENRO assistant-in-charge Flash Jerusalem said that prior to the full implementation of the plastic ban, his office conducted an information and education campaign.

“We need the cooperation of the public for the ordinance to be effective,” he said in Cebuano.

The intention of the ordinance is to prohibit the use and distribution of disposable plastic bags and polysterene foam (like Styrofoam) for retail establishments.

The MCENRO held a three-day orientation from July 25-27 for market vendors, business establishments and manufacturers at the sports gymnasium of Barangay Banilad.

Earlier, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) past presi- dent Phillip Tan said that it is the irresponsible use of plastics, not the plastic itself, that caused the flooding in the city.

“Nganong pakasad-on man nato ang plastic nga wa man na sila’y sala. Ang irresponsible use sa plastic ang nakaingon sa baha (Why blame it on plastic? It is the ir- responsible use of these plastic items that has caused the flooding),” Tan said.

MCCI President Glenn Anthony Soco said that the improper throwing of garbage and the inadequate infrastructure led to the city’s flooding problems.

“We will continue to hold consulta- tions and dialogues within the business sector and possibly come up with more effective solutions that we can work on with the LGU and all sectors, considering that flooding affects us all,” Soco said in a text message. Mae Angelica Genodiala, USJ-R Intern

(SUNSTAR FOTO/ALLAN CUIZON) ORDINANCE. Plastic items cling to the edge of the Mahiga Creek every time it floods after heavy rains. The Mandaue City Government announced that starting tomorrow, it will be fully implementing the anti-plastic ordinance.