CENRO: We will strictly enforce plastic ban

In observance of the Philippine Environment Month, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will arrange a meeting with all vendors' organizations next week to discuss the implementation of plastic ban.

Incoming CENRO chief Nida Cabrera said all business establishments are compliant with the City Ordinance No. 2343 or the plastic ban on Wednesday and Saturday.

“Among problema ang market, pero ang mga business establishments kay complying,” she told reporters.

Cabrera said the vendors in Mandaue City are compliant with the plastic ban, adding that they are using bayong or eco-bags.

The implementation of the plastic ban in the city will also depend on the public who should bring their eco-bags while buying at the markets, she said.

Discipline is the key for the vendors and the consumers, she added.

“After the meeting, balik nami og dakop na gyud sa mga violators. Nagsige nami og panakop maong nawala to sauna, unya karon, nibalik naman pod,” she said.

Cabrera said at least five barangay environment officers will be deployed in Carbon Market after the meeting with the vendors on June 12.

Under the ordinance, a penalty of P1,000 is imposed for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P5,000 with recommendation for suspension to sell at the market for the third offense.

She added there's an ongoing profiling as to the residents who are living near the river and on the riverbanks to know who will be held liable if plastics can be seen on rivers.

Also today, she said the CENRO team will participate in the cleanup drive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to celebrate the World Environment Day.

Cabrera said the cleanup drive will be from the corner of P. del Rosario to Fuente Osmeña Circle, while other agencies are assigned to do the cleanup in other areas of the city.

Also, there's a pending ordinance that will extend the plastic ban from two days to four days in a week.

City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia has submitted his proposed ordinance regulating the use of plastic shopping bags every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Meanwhile, DENR-7 Director Gilbert Gonzales said they focus their efforts in raising public consciousness on the harmful effects of single-use plastics and initiate collaborative efforts with other entities in promoting better alternatives.

"Cebu, especially in highly urbanized cities, has several commercial centers and business establishments. Many of the people residing here buy and use plastics," he told The FREEMAN in an interview yesterday following the kickoff program of the Philippine Environment Month observance this June.

This year's event seeks to address plastic pollution, spelled through the theme: "Beat Plastic Pollution: If you can't reuse it, refuse it!"

"Our toughest challenge now is on how to change public behavior and transform them into environmentallyresponsible consumers by adopting a plastic-free life," he said.

He also said that one of the main contributing factors of plastic pollution here are those disposable materials like plastic bags, straws, cups, and bottles used by businesses, particularly food establishments or restaurants.

He, however, commended other commercial stores that encourage the use of eco-bags in groceries and other food businesses that use reusable utensils or other items.

"Plastic is durable and cheap to manufacture, but these same reasons are exactly why it's harmful to our planet. When used responsibly, plastic can be a sound choice. However, single-use plastics... either end up in a landfill or worse, in our rivers, surroundings, oceans, and other water bodies where they take thousands of years to degrade," he added.