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LEGAZPI
CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- The Albay provincial board is pushing the
approval of an ordinance mandating the gradual phase-out of
plastic-based wrappers and bags in all business establishments in the
province.
Board
members Celso Aytona, chairman of the committee on environment, said
the ordinance also calls for the replacement of the same with
biodegradable and reusable wrappers, bags and other similar containers
within a three-year period.
"The
uncontrolled proliferation of plastic-based shopping bags, wrappers and
other non biodegradable items had caused tremendous pressure and untold
damage to the environment," Aytona noted.
He said the province had placed itself in the forefront of the struggle against the unabated destruction of the environment.
The
provincial legislator also urged all local government units to develop
and promote the utilization of indigenous plants and materials as
alternative to plastic based shopping bags, wrappers and containers.
"The
province is endowed with indigenous materials and natural resources
that is capable to sustain the production of biodegrable and ecology
friendly shopping bags or baskets made of abaca, kantong, karagumoy and
payaw leaves," he said.
He further said that the ordinance is the provincial government's response to climate change.
On
the other hand, Albay Councilors League president Julios Tingzon lV is
asking the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) regional offices to integrate climate change
mitigation in the curriculum and promote environmental education in the
school and community in the province. (PNA)
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