Styrofoam containers are back in Dumaguete City despite the total ban in Ordinance 231, Section 6.
Yes, we found them being used by accredited caterers in conferences, and we found them being used as fresh vegetable and fruit containers in our supermarkets.
Even after it was pointed out to the establishments, these styros did not disappear.
We can only gather that since the plastic bags are still around in violation of Ordinance 231, and it doesn’t need a detective to spot them, the Executive function to implement the ordinance is failing miserably.
That is why perhaps business thinks it can get away with further violations by using Styrofoam again.
What kind of example is business showing to the world and our children in violating the plastics ordinance?
What kind of example is our City government giving to its citizens including school children in its weak stand to implement its own ordinance nr. 231?
What kind of face is Dumaguete showing to its neighboring LGUs and to the rest of the country with regard to its implementation of this plastics reduction ordinance?
Believe us, this ordinance is not for the benefit of environmentalists. The harmful effects of plastics, labelled biodegradable or not, as well as polystyrene commonly known as Styrofoam is very present. They still “ clog our creeks and rivers and canals causing harm to the environment and the surrounding communities”. They still “in addition create safety problems during production” and “chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human health effects such as direct toxicity, carcinogens, endocrine disruption, which lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system suppression and developmental problems in children”. (Quoted from Dumaguete City Ordinance 231, series of 2011).
This administration now turns a new page in governance. You have a chance to make good what went wrong in the past. We look forward to a credible Dumaguete we can be proud of, and a City government we can look up to.
Esther C. Windler
Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives, Organising & Networking (MISSION)
