Total ban of plastic in Cebu City ‘scrapped’

DUE to objections, the proposal to expand the coverage of Cebu City Ordinance (CO) 2343 will not be taking effect anytime soon.

Last April, opposition Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia filed a draft ordinance amending CO 2343, which regulates the sale and use of plastic shopping bags every Saturday.

The City Council passed the measure 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. He pointed out that the rampant use and “irresponsible” disposal of plastic bags have clogged the city’s drainage system.

Garcia also wants business establishments with cashier lanes to provide a “green lane,” which will prioritize customers who bring their sacks or cloth bags, or any reusable containers, when shopping.

The measure drew mixed views from members of the City Council during its final deliberation last week.

Need for a feasibility study

In an 8-5 vote with two abstentions, the council disapproved the Garcia’s draft ordinance.

Those who voted against were Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) Councilors Joy Augustus Young, Sisinio Andales, Margarita Osmeña, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann delos Santos, Franklyn Ong and Jessica Resch.

Although a member of BOPK, Councilor Dave Tumulak voted in favor of the measure along with minority bloc Councilors Garcia, Joel Garganera, Eduardo Rama Jr. and Pastor Alcover Jr.

Majority bloc Councilor Jerry Guardo and opposition Councilor Joy Pesquera abstained.

During the nearly 40-minute discussion, Young and Gabuya lamented that a feasibility study on the proposed measure should be done first.

“Before we make a final decision on this one, we have to know what happened to the first ordinance. Its impact,” Young said.

For Garganera, it’s a matter of changing people’s behavior.

“We’ve been public servants for the last 30 years, but where are we right now? We have to make innovative ways on how to instill discipline on the behavior towards plastic. This proposed ordinance could be a game-changing approach,” he said.

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