LOCAL environmental groups reiterated their call for the urgent passage of the ordinance banning single-use plastics in Davao City after nearly 2,000 different types of solid wastes were collected in a recent river clean-up drive.
In a joined statement Friday, January 29, 2021, the Interfacing Development Interventions (Idis) and Bantay Bukid volunteers said they were able to collect a total of 1,954 pieces of different types of solid wastes such as plastics, cans, bottles, glass, face masks, and face shields during the river cleanup and brand audit on January 27, 2021, at Panigan-Tamugan Watershed in Baguio District, Davao City.
"Most of the collected wastes were food packaging, plastic bottles, and household products packaging," Idis and Bantay Bukid said.
The groups also identified the top three brands that were collected at the river.
The two groups partnered for the river clean-up in celebration of the Zero Waste Month in January.
The groups said the alarming result of the river clean-up had intensified their call to once again call for the ban of single-use plastics in the city.
"While the banning of single-use plastics ordinance has been into several committee hearings, it could have been better if the City Council would urgently tackle this matter and pass this ordinance now," the groups said.
Juan Lumpit, a Bantay Bukid volunteer from Barangay Wines, said there is a need to immediately address the matter as plastic wastes ending up in the river.
“Basi sa among aktibidades na mao ang river clean-up ug paglista sa mga nagkadaiyang basura nga plastic nga napunitan, among nasuta nga grabe gayod ang problema diri sa kasapaan,” Lumpit said.
(Based on our river clean-up and brand audit on various plastic wastes we collected, we found out that there is a serious problem with wastes in our rivers.)
“Dapat unta adunay lig-on nga polisiya aron mabawasan ang paggamit og plastic labi na sa mga dagkong kompanya. Among ipahimangno nga tagaan kini og pagtagad kay ang tubig sa Panigan-Tamugan kay maong ilimnon sa dakbayan sa sumusunod,” Lumpit added.
(There should be a strong policy to lessen the use of plastics especially on the part of big companies. This must be looked into because the water in Panigan-Tamugan will be a source of drinking water in the future.)
Idis Program Coordinator Mavic Hilario said volunteers also found bottles of pesticides during the clean-up.
Hilario called on those who are using pesticides especially those whose areas are near rivers "to bury empty containers in accordance with good agricultural practice, or better yet practice organic farming" to protect rivers and watersheds.
The ordinance is still being deliberated in the City Council.