Mayor seeks reduction of plastic materials in the city
Mayor Benjamin Magalong wants an immediate implementation of programs and activities to significantly reduce the use of plastics in the city and fully engage in a circular economy.
In an urgent meeting called for last Friday, July 7 with officials from the Zero waste, Eco-waste coalition, Department of Education (Dep-Ed), Health Services Office (HSO), City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), Waste and Hazardous Waste Material Division (CEPMO-WHWMD), General Services Office (GSO), the mayor pointed out the need to collaborate for the said critical issues.
We need to raise awareness on the dangers and ill-effects of the use of plastics, the mayor emphasized, thus mindset and behavioral change comes in through education, IECs and other endeavors.
For day care and basic education learners, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) with the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) share responsibility on teaching the rudiments of waste segregation, re-use and re-cycling. The Zero waste coalition agreed to expand learning modules to include childrens’ books about the environment, global warming and climate change, with the HSO adding in materials about plastics’ detrimental effects to human beings.
The basic plastic-free lectures could be included in the forthcoming summer childrens’ reading camp, with storytelling and acting-out activities in coordination with the City Public Library, Nino Tibangay of the Dep-Ed volunteered. He also said IECs could be integrated during the parents-teachers meetings, even before the opening of classes this September.
Capability meetings and workshops regarding materials on Plastic-free and the Plastic and Styrofoam free Baguio ordinance shall be conducted among committee members with wider dissemination expected, as members could split into teams for lectures in the barangays, schools or small group discussions.
Plastics for packaging should be refused, and individuals, groups or barangays who could implement this could either be subsidized or given incentives; before a total transition into biodegradable packing materials, it was agreed.
Meetings for IECs and agreements for a plastic-free Baguio would be called for sectors including the academe, church, barangays, socio-civic groups, people’s organizations and other groups. The business group had their meeting last Thursday, at the multi-purpose hall, presided by Mayor Magalong.
As for the shift from linear to circular economy; Mayor Magalong pointed out that linear economy entails only consumption and waste with options for recycling; or reduction and waste. Circular economy would be a consumption, repair, reuse, recycle with a minimal or no waste at all.
The activities being done are also in consonance with July as plastic-free month. – JGF
