BAGUIO CITY – The draft permanent implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Ordinance No. 36 series of 2017 or the “Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio City Ordinance” will be subjected to a “Solutions Forum and Write Shop” on May 9 from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. at the City Hall Multi-Purpose Hall.
City General Services Officer-in-Charge Eugene Buyucan and City Environment and Parks Management Officer Cordelia Lacsamana said the activity aims to present the draft IRR to the various stakeholders and solicit their suggestions and recommendations prior to finalizing the same.
The final IRR will replace the provisional guidelines issued last week via Administrative Order No. 45-2018 of Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Invited to the forum were the members of the Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio Task Force and representatives from the various sectors especially those who are engaged in businesses using plastic bags and Styrofoam and the consumers groups using these products.
Aside from finalizing the IRR, the activity also aims to clarify all vague areas and educate the public on the hazardous effects of these products on the people’s health and on the environment.
They also hope to generate inputs on other alternatives to the plastic materials.
The output or the finalized IRR will be submitted to the City Council for approval.
One expected point of discussion will be whether or not to allow the use of oxo-biodegradable and “bioplastics” or vegetable-based plastics bags as some establishments have sought exemption from the provisions of the ordinance on account of their using said materials.
The mayor’s order disallowed the use of said products “unless properly supported by laboratory findings and certification issued by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as to their degradation process and among others (and unless) the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) code is adequately marked on the batch of plastic products.”
Some sectors have voiced out preference for a total ban on plastic materials to include the oxo-biodegradable kind to wean the public’s dependence on plastic and totally ensure that nobody would skirt the ban. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
