LAOAG CITY — In time for the month-long celebration of Philippine Environment Month this June, eco warriors, composed mainly of young men and women volunteers from different parts of the province, are visiting public markets to distribute reusable and eco-friendly bags in exchange for single use plastics.
Amid the passage of local ordinances banning the use of plastics and styrofoam products, a few commercial establishments are observing it, at least in this city.
Initiated by Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba, the “AMBag sa Kalikasan” (My contribution to nature)” project hopes to reduce the use of plastics and to raise environmental awareness, particularly in promoting a plastic-free environment.
“It is always my advocacy to protect and care for our mother earth, that is why, I came up with this project. It is my great hope that someday, we will experience a cleaner and greener earth,” Barba said on Thursday, as he enjoined everyone to do something for a clean and safe environment.
Since the project was launched earlier this month, a total of 1,200 eco bags have already been distributed to at least four different municipalities in the province.
“We’re sensing a plastic bag-free community hopefully soon,” said one of the organizers as they visited the Batac public market amid the rains on Thursday.
“We encouraged citizens to switch to reusable eco bags, instead of using plastic bags. If only we can make using ‘bayong’ eco bags a trend again, and if only we can ban plastic bags, it will make a huge difference in our community,” the organizer added.
A study shows that some 160,000 plastic bags are used globally every second and that a plastic bag is thrown every 12 minutes. However, it takes 25 to 450 years for plastic bags to decompose completely. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
