CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A coalition of non-government organizations, private individuals, government officials and environmental advocates are urging the public to heed the call of “Alang Plastikan” starting Sunday.

The coalition said its call to the public to refrain from using plastic bags starting November 1 would be reinforced with the re-education of various sectors, integrating environmental conservation into school curriculums, promoting the use of biodegradable plastics, and regulating the use plastic according to government laws.

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During the group’s official launching on Tuesday at Bale Kapampangan here, coalition convenor Andy Alviz said that such measures would effectively curb the use of plastic among schools and communities in the grassroots level.

“The first step is awareness and presentation of possible alternatives to minimize and regulate plastic use. The ‘plastic monster’ is true and it can kill and harm us and our environment. The coalition presents clear steps and we are now going to the sectoral level,” Alviz said.

He said as an initial step, they have coordinated with the Archdiocese of San Fernando, where various parish priests would announce during masses the call for the ban on plastics starting on November 1.

The Alang Plastikan Coalition has been established to curb the use of plastic in the province. Cecil Yumul of Save the Trees Foundation and a member of the coalition said their group has still a lot to do in terms of tapping various sectors.

“Reeducation is a basic approach. We are going to highlight the harmful effects of using plastic and of poor garbage disposal. Home Economics subjects could be used to teach children on the livelihood possibilities on recycling and using alternatives for plastic bags,” Yumul said.

Yumul said the business sector also plays a vital role in the plan to reduce plastic use.

“Alang Plastikan is a message of not using plastic and becoming true to the advocacy of helping the environment,” she said, stressing that government has a significant responsibility to get other sectors together on the advocacy.

She said starting with the young would be the best way to create greater and sustained awareness on their call to protect the environment and avert disastrous floods.

Fourth district Provincial Board Member Ricardo Yabut and City Councilor Jaime “Jimmy” Lazatin, who are part of the coalition, said they would be holding talks this coming week to create an acceptable ordinance in the city and the province on the regulated use of plastic and garbage segregation.

Yabut, author of the ordinance “Isang Araw na Walang Plastikan,” has written and informed Governor Eddie Panlilio regarding the coalition and its move to regulate, if not totally ban, the use of plastics this All Saints’ Day and onwards. He is also set to file next week a similar ordinance banning the use of plastic and non-biodegradable materials at the Capitol.

For his part, Lazatin told Sun.Star Pampanga: “Political will is a basic solution on the political level. We want to start on the community level and escalate the program into a wider provincial sphere. We are going to conduct consultations so that we could be assured that we could come up with an eco-friendly ordinance that is acceptable to the majority.”

Alternatives

Among the first call of the group is not to use plastic this coming All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day. The coalition is prescribing the use of cloth bags made from old jeans, scrap cloth and biodegradable materials.

Bea Ang, a local entrepreneur and designer, said making cloth bags is economical. “One would only need a needle and thread coupled with a dash of ingenuity to create these inexpensive cloth bags that can last for at least a year of rigid use.”

Ang said another alternative would be reusing paper bags that are biodegradable and could be recycled easily.

“Since plastic bags are much cheaper to produce than paper bags, supermarkets could also use biodegradable plastic bags or other organic materials. Still going to the basic of bringing your own bag or bayong to the public market is a very practical move,” Ang said.

Ang said cloth bag patterns and how-to-do patterns are available on the web.

Business sector’s commitment

Alviz said there are scheduled meetings with the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) and other business groups here to discuss the possibility on cutting down on the use of plastic among groceries, small and medium supermarkets.

Malou Garbes, a businesswoman, said it would be easier for the business sector to cut out on dispensing plastic bags if there are economical alternatives and incentives from government.

Garbes said using paper bags would entail additional cost on the part of the supermarket owners.

This was corroborated by businessman Ben Sy, who said that consumers should also be ready to accept a change in their usual buying practices.

“The consumers should also be ready to curb their plastic consumption and demanding for plastic bags when we pack their goods. There law should also be implemented in way that all businessmen would adhere to it,” Sy said.

Media Support

CLTV36’s Creative Services Department Head Dior Laus, during Tuesday’s launching, said they have created 30-seconder infomercials advocating the stop on the use of plastic and responsible garbage segregation and disposal. The infomercials will be shown at CLTV36 for free.

“As long as there are advocacies like this, we are going to show these infomercials,” Laus said.

Guv, city join move

Governor Eddie Panlilio on Friday joined the calls of the coalition and other government officials in their “Alang Plastikan” move starting this All Saints’ Day.

“I laud the call of the coalition led by Andy. Board Member Yabut also wrote me about it. And I am urging all our cabalens in the province to please refrain from using plastics and just go back to our traditional packaging and containers like the bayong and paper,” Panlilio told Sun.Star Pampanga.

“It is actually one of my strongest advocacies to protect our environment. Just imagine what will happen to us again if we do not regulate the use of these plastic materials. There would again be floods and health risks as our esteros and rivers will be filled with non-biodegradable waste that is really very harmful to the environment as well as people,” he said.

Panlilio narrated how he fears global warming and climate change, compounded by the lack of necessary waste management, could eventually bring Mother Earth to its knees.

“You see, everything that we use; plastics and even gas from air conditioners, have been very harmful to Mother Earth. It’s time we do our share and it is a very good initial step we would take on All Saints’ Day,” he said.

He said he agreed with the proposal of Yabut to start with the Capitol on the ban of plastics immediately.

“Yes. That would be a very good move to start here. As leaders, such issues on the ban of plastic use should start with us and it has to be very soon,” Panlilio said.

Last Thursday, the City Government of San Fernando led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez had issued similar calls to residents and folks here who will pay respects to their departed loved ones.

During the city’s Oplan Kaluluwa 2009 conference, City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao requested those visiting the city’s 12 cemeteries to use newspapers or other biodegradable containers instead so as not to compound garbage problems and waste disposal to avert flooding and prevent health risks.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on November 1, 2009.