The Laguna Lake Development Authority
will hold a seminar-workshop for Municipal and City
Environment and Natural Resources Officers (ENROs) on
the use of plastic in the Laguna de Bay Region on
29
June 2011 at the City of Manila
(venue to be announced).
The purpose of the workshop is to
share information, experience and best practice in
addressing the haphazard dumping of plastic bags and
packaging materials into the environment and the
eventual burning of the same in open dumpsites. It will
also tackle the necessary measures to curtail the
harmful effects of such packaging products into the
environment by banning the use thereof.
In a study conducted by the Muntinlupa City Government
after the destructive typhoon Ondoy, it was found out
that 90% of materials which obstructed waterways and
clogged storm drains were plastic.
In addition, a recent study by the
Ocean Conservancy shows that the debris collected from
Philippine Coastal Clean-up in 2008, which included
sites in and around Laguna de Bay, consisted
predominantly of plastic bags and plastic packaging
materials.
As co-stewards of the Laguna de Bay
environment, local government units (LGUs) play a major
role in ensuring the implementation of the LLDA Board
Resolution No. 406 which bans the use of
non-biodegradable plastic bags in all cities and
municipalities in the Laguna de Bay Region.
Approved on 24 March 2011, the
resolution aims to concretely address the indiscriminate
dumping of plastic bags and other packaging materials
into the environment causing flooding, clogging of
waterways and shallowing of the rivers and the lake.
As an alternative, LLDA is advocating the use of
biodegradable plastics which is made out of potatoes and
corn. As of today, there are many biodegradable plastic
products available in the market such as sando bags,
garbage bags, utensils, disposable plates, among others.
This is being promoted on top the reuse, reduce and
recycle campaign of the Authority.
LLDA
General Manager Rod Cabrera is confident that with the
support and cooperation of the LGUs in the
implementation of the plastic ban, the Laguna de Bay
Region will move forward towards the sustainable
development of the lake and its watershed.
The Local Governments of Muntinlupa City in Metro
Manila; the Municipalities of Los Baños, Calamba, Paete
and Kalayaan in Laguna, Taytay in Rizal; Lucban in
Quezon and Carmona in Cavite have already passed and
implemented local ordinances prohibiting or regulating
the use of plastic bags in their localities. The other
LGUs are expected to do the same.
