THE USE of reusable grocery bags will regulate if not lessen the plastic material usage in the city, a lawmaker said.
Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus, committee on environment chair, plans to pass a resolution promoting the use of reusable grocery and shopping bags in various stores in the city.
During the suspended rules, Mahipus urged grocery and shopping stores to establish good industry practices aligned with the environmental conservation initiatives of the council.
In his privileged speech, the councilor highlighted environmental protection policies and efforts in accordance with Executive Order No. 29 Series of 2018 recognizing September as Lunhaw Month.
“It is, therefore, appropriate during this Lunhaw month to bring to the fore the need to study more environmental protection legislation, including the passage of the proposed ordinance regulating the use of plastic grocery bags in the city,” Mahipus said
“I call upon grocery and shopping stores to discourage single-use grocery bags and aggressively promote the use of reusable grocery and shopping bags,” he added,
Mahipus recalled that even though the city is at the forefront of environmental protection like the No to Single-Use Plastic Ordinance and Solid Waste Management Ordinance, plastic usage and its proper disposal remains an issue in the commercial sector.
“The 19th city council was successful in passing the single-use plastic regulation ordinance. It was a balancing act for us during its consideration taking into account environmental protection policies and also the economic consequences of regulations to our business community.,” Mahipus said.
The councilor cited the “no grocery bag day” proposed by now Mindanao Development Authority chair Mabel Acosta, which promotes recycling or all-purpose bags.
“Be that as it may, it must be a matter of consideration to regulate if not lessen our dependence on this plastic material and encourage the use of reusable grocery bags,” he added.
