On Nov. 11, the rains from typhoon Zoraida brought floods, in particular the Banica River, which deposited a horrendous amount of garbage on the river banks almost like during Sendong in February 2011. I see it at the back of our property which borders Banica.
On Nov. 16, BPI Bayan through Gary Rosales arranged a clean up at the Silliman beach.
As we picked up the plastics, nets, bottles, shoes, old bags, etc. strewn on the beach, the murky sea brought in with each wave more garbage, most of them plastic bags.
Wasn’t it only last month that ENRO proudly announced how many tons of garbage was collected in our ocean shores during the International Coastal Cleanup in September?
The clean up reminded me of the wheel of Sisyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by the gods by having to push a big boulder up a steep hill. As soon as he reached the top, the boulder would roll down, and he had to push it up again and again without end.
And so like the Wheel of Sisyphus, we clean up, our City collects the garbage, and the floods bring them down again and again.
We all know how vulnerable the dumpsite is to floods, and plenty of what is collected and thrown there goes back to the rivers and hence, the sea plus the willful way of riverbank dwellers who still find it convenient to throw their trash into the river.
Observe each time you pass the “old bridge” and see fresh plastic being thrown by riverside dwellers on top of the dike. And since no one apprehends them, well…
That particular Saturday during the SU beach cleanup, I mused as I helped pick up trash with the St. Paul students. I mused that perhaps if Mr. Mayor himself will show up, bend down, and pick up some trash with us (without fanfare and press), and show us that he, too, cares, then perhaps more of the citizenry will follow suit.
What is the best way to teach but to show by example?
Oh, and why not also have the notables from the business community also come and help pick up, huh?
After all, it is largely their insistence on automatically giving plastic bags that has helped create this mountain of trash.
And perhaps by having to pick plastics again and again in the same places, then solutions on how to prevent these from happening will finally dawn.
Ordinance 231 to reduce the use of plastics bags was signed two years ago, and supposed to have been fully implemented more than a year ago.
This worthy ordinance is still in limbo. Even styrofoam, which is totally banned, is now being used in supermarkets, without any apprehension from authorities.
Not to mention caterers using styrofoam for packed lunches in official functions.
Has our City administration forgotten why the Ordinance was crafted in the first place? One of the very reasons was to prevent more plastics from piling up and ending in our canals, rivers and seas.
Yes, and meanwhile, other LGUs around Dumaguete like Sibulan, are watching and waiting. Waiting to see how Dumaguete manages the implementation of this Ordinance to reduce the use of plastics so they may follow suit.
And while they can wait, I don’t know if the environment can be as patient.
Esther Ceniza-Windler
Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives
Organizing & Networking (MISSION)
