IN A bid to encourage the public to use eco bags and disc plastics during shopping, the City Government is going around public markets to reward consumers they find using eco bags when purchasing.
Julius Pamisa of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) last week led the initiative and rewarded about 10 residents with five kilograms of rice each. These residents were found using their own eco bags at the Carmen Market.
“We are now targeting the markets, instead of malls, because public markets are where the majority of the public are buying,” he said.
This initiative, he said, is part of the City Government’s intensified campaign to prepare for the full blown implementation of the regulation of plastic use on January 1, 2019.
In the coming weeks, the team will also visit Cogon market, Puerto market, and Agora market.
“These gimmicks actually help strengthen our advocacy. The reward system is proven to be effective,” he added.
Joann Abao, one of those rewarded, said she was actually unaware of the city’s plan to regulate plastic use. Her family, however, is used to using eco bags when going to the market.
“Using cellophane is actually expensive, if we use our own eco bags you can still use it the next time you go to the market. You simply just have to wash it then you can use it again,” Abao said.
Miss Cagayan de Oro Mary Chris Suico, who was also part of the team that is going around the markets, said the initiative is a step closer for Cagayan de Oro to be an earth-friendly city.
Suico vowed to use her platform to achieve this goal.
“It’s a small step but that’s where you start to achieve this bigger goal, we all need to cooperate in this movement,” she said.
Pamisa, meanwhile said, they will also reward those market vendors who are promoting the use of eco bags instead of plastic cellophane.