‘No plastic, no styro’ policy pushed

BANGUED, Abra – Consistent with its Zero Waste Management Program, the municipal government here is pushing for a “no plastic, no styro” policy.

This capital town’s Solid Waste Action Team (SWAT) disseminated the newest policy of the local government to representatives of the business sector, the academe and media earlier this week.

The policy was presented in a discussion of a Sangguniang Bayan resolution pushing for the regulation and eventual prohibition of the use of plastic bags and styropor containers in order to reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials.

In response to the call for community participation, the academe had given their initial commitment to start recycling their waste papers in schools, while the businessmen have agreed to lessen the use of plastic bags and styropor and use paper bags instead as their wrapping materials.

A continuing information and education campaign will now be conducted by the academe and the media to promote awareness and generate participation from the communities especially in the implementation of the RYAN Program which stands for “recycle your garbage now, na.”

Mayor Ryan Seares Luna has adopted the Zero Waste Management Program as his flagship project in his first 100 days in office.

Aside from reviving Bangued as a model town, the project will likewise generate a great source of organic fertilizer for the farmers.

To facilitate the realization of this project, the mayor reorganized and reactivated the Solid Waste Management Board, according to Frances Judith D. Centeno of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). This is also in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Solid Waste Management Law.

With the mayor as the chairman, and Sangguniang Bayan Walter Benedito as the vice-chair, he being the chairman of the SB Committee on Health and Environmental Sanitation, with Sanitary Inspector Tony Rosete, and Alberto Adame, the head of the General Services Division as regular members; Ivy Avendanio as secretariat and Mr. Isidro Vasquez as consultant.

Serving as supportive members are Evangeline Bosque of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ; Centeno of DENR, Assistant Schools Superintendent Francis Cesar Bringas and Provincial Director Menandro Buenafe of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for technical assistance. –DEXTER SEE, Manila Bulletin