ALTHOUGH they’re supportive of the measure, some private stakeholders presented suggestions to the Cebu City Council on how to improve the plan to amend City Ordinance (CO) 2343, which regulates the sale and use of plastic shopping bags in the city.

During the public hearing yesterday, lawyer Cehon Jumao-as, who represented the Cebu Vendors’ Association, asked for an actual sampling for vendors of plastics that will be banned if the proposed ordinance will be approved.

“We need specifics. They need to define what type of plastic is allowed. The vendors will appreciate if it will be presented visually,” he said.

Jumao-as said there are different kinds of plastic used for repacking of goods.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia sponsored the proposed ordinance that seeks to amend CO 2343, which regulates the sale and use of plastic shopping bags only every Saturday.

The City Council passed CO 2343 in 2012. A year later, it was expanded to include Wednesdays.

Garcia, though, wants the plastic ban to be in effect seven days a week.

For her part, Catherine Ruiz of Kaabag sa Sugbo suggested that CO 2343 should require the conduct of a baseline annual waste characterization to provide evidence-based inputs in reviewing the program.

With baseline annual waste characterization, Ruiz said, the City will determine if there is a decrease in plastic waste by implementing the ordinance. (RVC)