Plastics ban being pushed metro-wide

THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Sunday urged other local governments to follow the example of the cities of Muntinlupa, Taguig, Quezon and Makati to ban plastic bags, styrofoam and other plastic disposables by 2013.

Chairman Francis Tolentino said the rest of Metro Manila’s components Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, Manila, Pateros, Valenzuela, San Juan, Pasig, Marikina, Caloocan, Parañaque, Navotas, Pasay and Malabon should support an all-out ban on plastics.

“I expect next year the 17 local government units would all be simultaneously i mplementing the ban,” Tolentino said during his agency’s regular radio program.

“Muntinlupa initiated the effort followed by Las Piñas and Taguig.”

Tolentino said Makati and Quezon City had their own ordinances banning plastic bags by 2013, and had given their constituents a year to prepare for the ban’s implementation.

He urged the mayors to have their own plans to ease the harmful effects of global warming and climate change.

He said he had met with Lucille Sering, vice chairman of the Climate Change Commission, to discuss the potential economic impact of disasters on climate change.

“Our main discussion focused on the increased involvement of the local government units in Metro Manila to take action toward responding to the call to mitigate climate change,” Tolentino. Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard Today