ALMOST 20,000 residents and volunteers gathered over the weekend at the municipal plaza in Bagac, Bataan to simultaneously participate in the annual International Coastal Clean-up Day.
The activity was highlighted by the launching of the One Bagac for Zero Plastic movement or "1-4-0," which aims to advocate the total ban on the
use of plastic products among residents and even tourists.
Mayor Ramil del Rosario, who led the launching of the event, said the local government aims to make the municipality sustainable and eco-friendly for the benefit of future generations.
"I have been in politics for more than 15 years and I believe I have done much for politics' sake, since I was given a fresh mandate by my constituents. And I wanted to make a lasting legacy that will be beneficial to Bagac and the people, especially the future generations," he said.
Being a coastal municipality, Del Rosario said Bagac is prone to water surges and flash floods, which sometimes is worsened by waste, particularly plastics, that float back to the shoreline and even to residential areas.
"Bagac is only a small town. We can only do so much in saving the environment. But through our little actions, we hope that we can encourage other towns to protect and preserve the Earth starting from minimizing the use of plastics and ensuring that our trash will be disposed properly far from our waters," he said.
The local chief executive added that the program is also in line with his vision to make the municipality one of the premier tourist destinations in the country by ensuring that its beaches are clean and safe for swimming.
"Hopefully, through our united effort, we cannot only save our environment but also make our municipality the cleanest one in Bataan and the country that will be famous to local and international tourists. In this way, we will not only make a name for Bagac, but also provide additional livelihood to our people," he said.
Arming the law
Meanwhile, the Municipal Council has passed an ordinance for the total ban of plastic in the whole municipality in support of Del Rosario's advocacy.
According to Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chairman Councilor Jayson Nazareno, the ordinance aims to strengthen the pro-environment advocacy by putting proper sanctions to violators.
"The ban on plastic is a sustainable project that is not only applicable to our municipality. When we saw the chance to finally push for it, we made sure that it will be implemented properly," Nazareno said.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Engineer Paquito Moreno Jr., meanwhile, lauded the efforts of the local government for coastal clean-up and environmental protection.
"These initiatives are very substantial in our goal of reviving Manila Bay because aside from Manila itself, municipalities along Manila Bay, including here in Bataan, are among the biggest contributor in the pollution in our natural harbor," he said.
Students, mountaineering groups, resort owners and other business groups, tourists, members of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police, and the religious sector also participated in the day-long event.