The city government of Dumaguete is now looking at ways to amend its anti-plastics ordinance to allow its full implementation following observations that many business establishments continue to disregard the measure.
City Administrator William Ablong disclosed this after he met with Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rey Awayan, Solid Waste Management Coordinator Armand Adanza and other city officials.
According to Ablong, there are some “loopholes” in the measure that need to be reviewed and addressed as the city is bent on its full implementation
A business establishment which, from the very start of the ordinance implementation, insisted on using plastic bags marked “biodegradable” and had even hired the services of a lawyer to prevent them from being charged by the city for violation of the said law, Ablong said.
One of the loopholes, he said, is a provision in the ordinance that requires a certification from an international scientific body that plastic bags being used by some business establishments in the city are indeed biodegradable.
Ablong was referring to plastic bags that are marked “biodegradable” but which has now become the bone of contention between the city government and the business sector in the absence of the required certification.
The city administrator lamented that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology have informed the city they do not have the expertise to certify that truly, plastic bags used by stores, shopping malls and similar establishments contain a component that is biodegradable.
He also believes there is no international authority in the Philippines that can issue the said certification.
While admitting that the anti-plastics ordinance has not been fully implemented, it is also not a total failure as many other stores are cooperating with the city by using paper bags instead.
Ablong thanked those that have abided by the measure, which, he said, has resulted in minimized clogging of canals due to plastic waste materials.
This time, once the proposed amendments are forwarded to the city council, the city government will not hesitate to fully implement the anti-plastics ordinance even if it means being sued in court by those opposing it, Ablong added. (PNA/JSF)
