SAN FRANCISCO, Camotes Island, Cebu, Philippines - To continue its strong advocacy on environment consciousness, this island-town has recently implemented a program that will reduce the use of plastics, with establishments prohibited to provide free plastics to its consumers and clients.
Town mayor, Aly Arquillano, in an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin, said they started the year right by implementing a no-free plastic campaign where different establishments, resorts and public markets are urged to stop providing free plastics so that people will be forced to use re-usable bags or 'bayong.'
''As our population continues to grow we notice that non-biodegradable products like plastic packages have also increased, with these material comprising 30 percent of our waste,'' he said.
Arquillano pointed out that since the town has been a good model in the implementation of provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, ''we want to come up with a strong program that will complement what we have already started.''
It can be recalled that of the 52 municipalities in the province of Cebu, this town has, in the recent past, been named Grand Champion of the 1st Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (e-GWEN).
E-GWEN is a project of the provincial government under the Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia recognizing local government units (LGUs) with strong environment programs. The e-GWEN program aims to make Cebu an ideal place to live, work, play, invest and do business.
Meanwhile, Arquillano also disclosed that the implementation of the Purok System has also greatly helped them in implementing solid waste management (SWM) as the community, down to the barangay level, has a committee that checks on garbage disposal.
