CITY GOVERNMENT BANS PLASTIC BUNTINGS

Effective April 2009, City Ordinance No. 13 (Series of 2009) entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting the installation and display of buntings and pennants made with plastic & non-biodegradable materials along the streets, roads and public places within the city of Olongapo” shall be implemented.

Ordinance No. 13 is an essential part of the program of the city government in maintaining Olongapo City’s cleanliness and orderliness, sustain the development of the tourism industry and protect the health of the community.

The City Council last March 09, 2009 passed the said ordinance in line with the implementation of the first solid waste management program of the city.

The ban of plastic straw strings or plastic buntings and other non-biodegradable materials will lessen the volume of pollutants and trash present in the environment.

The City Council noted that “these materials will remain in the environment for hundreds of years, thereby causing long-term pollution and often cause the blocking of drainage and sewer pipes, resulting to flooding. Also plastic materials discarded to the ecosystem cause death and injuries to animals ingesting it”.

The lead agencies for the implementation of this project are the Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO), the 17 Barangays of the city and the Office of Traffic Management and Public Safety (OTMPS). Violators of the provisions shall be given citations and failure or negligence to settle within ten (10) days shall be further penalized.

Violators of the provisions shall be fined as follows:

First Offense: A fine of Five Hundred Pesos(P500.00)

Second Offense: A fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00)

Third Offense: A fine of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,500.00), or imprisonment of not more than three (3) months or both, at the discretion of the court and in the case of business entities, cancellation of their licenses or permit for one (1) year.
Pao/nmm

ESMO IS SET TO DEPLOY CONTAINER BINS

The new solid waste management system in Olongapo City will soon be implemented, according to Environmental Sanitation and Management Office Assistant Head Rogelio Payumo. The deployment of container bins for garbage collection will start on April 7. The three colored container bins, yellow, green and blue are assigned to the hospitals, households and government offices respectively.

One container bin for every four to six households are to be deployed in every barangay. The city has acquired seven new mechanical trucks to make the collection of garbage easier. Before implementation, ESMO will be conducting an information dissemination drive on schools to orient the students of the solid waste management system.

The solid waste management system is in line with Republic Act 9003 which states, “An Act providing for an ecological solid waste management program. Creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes” enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress.

This is also part of the city’s project CR3, Compose, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. Its main objective is to ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration; Ensure the protection of public health and environment; Utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery.

Pao/nmm

THE DANGERS OF PLASTIC

There is a draft ordinance before the City Council that prohibits the sale, use and installation of platic or non-biodegradable materials as decorations for fiestas and any occasion in Olongapo City.

Sponsored by Councilor Jong Cortez, Committee Chair on City Environmental Protection, the proposal came about after Mayor Bong Gordon and Cortez observed that almost two months after the City Fiesta last December, there are still “banderitas” hanging along the streets. Based on past observations, it usually takes years before buntings are taken down, or worst not all.

EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, commented in a blog that “Fiesta Buntings Are Environmental Burdens.” (http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com) “The wild use of disposable buntings such as those made of plastic bags, product advertisements and packaging scraps indicates a sorry lack of awareness regarding the adverse impact of these single-use fiesta accessories to our environment and climate,” says EcoWaste Coalition President Manny Calonzo.

Calonzo also added that, “The “banderitas” add to the tons of post-fiesta discards that are usually disposed through ecologically harmful practices such as dumping and burning, which destroy resources and produce toxic emissions.”

To minimize pollution and revive the ailing health of our environment, according to the group “it is imperative for the governmental and church authorities to institute proactive measures that will curb wasteful practices, including a ban on disposable plastic buntings.”

According to Cortez, if ever the said draft ordinance will be passed “we (Olongapo City) will be the first city in the country to have passed an ordinance banning the use of plastic as decorations. Ang plastic, kahit ilang taon, maiiwan pa rin sa ating landfills and they’ll just continuously pile up.”

It can be recalled that most of Mayor Gordon’s projects are geered towards cleaning up and preserving the environment because he believes that “ito ang tunay na yaman ng Olongapo.”

Because it has been a long time practice and tradition, people can still put up “banderitas” made up of alternative materials which are readily available that does not cost anything and at the same time, environment-friendly, such as scraps of colored fabric that can be washed and can be reused for several years.

A recent image shows buntings (banderitas) installed for the celebration of the City Fiesta last December which are now faded but still hanging along a busy street.

PAO/chay

NO to “Siga”

City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon issued a memorandum recently to remind the public on the adverse effects of pollution and the alternative solutions available to face the city’s waste management problems.

Open Burning is the most common practice and traditional way of disposing rubbish by many communities. Open Burning, however is prohibited as per Rule III Section 1 of the Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000.

Open Burning refers to the thermal destruction of wastes by means of direct exposure to fire. Violators are subject to a monetary fine and imprisonment or both.

Pollutants that are emitted by the burning smoke as a result of open burning include dioxins, ash and other hazardous chemicals. These are very harmful to the environment and the health of the community. Open Burning can create safety hazards, cause nuisance, soil buildings and property. These chemicals may also seep into ground water and contaminate it, according to experts.

The alternate solutions are called CR3 – Compose, Reduce, Reuse at Recycle.

“These are not high tech solutions but are effective if we implement it in our own homes and community,” according to Mayor Gordon.

“Clean air is essential and should be preserved and protected for the next generation,” he added.


Open Burning produce dioxins and other hazardous chemicals that have adverse effects in the environment and the public’s health.

PAO/chay

Reader Comment:I agree so much with our Mayor and even to their disagreement to the proposed Coal-powered-plant by the Aboitiz company. The Olongapeño's message to protect the environement and the community's health is very clear.

However, contrary what is being said to the public, in New Cabalan Sanitary Landfill there is this big "siga" apparent to those commuters (possibly are visitors from other regions such as Manila) who pass by New Cabalan hi-way on their way to Olongapo proper.

The smoke coming from the burning mountain of garbage often envelopes Purok 1 Libas, New Cabalan where the vehicles from Olongapo proper-Manila pass by. I am one of the resident of New Cabalan have felt certain dismay knowing that more than 10 years that the people of Olongapo are paying garbage fees and nothing seem done well with the waste management. Though recently, I have received newletters from this group regarding a certain garbage bin that will be imported expressing that this is one of the steps that are to be taken in relation to the waste management in the city. Frankly, I have high hopes on that.

It is just that the recent scenario now at New Cabalan has been giving me this doubts again. I am a person who would not want to blame the government for I have accepted the loopholes in the government system with my experience working in the government for almost five years now - almost 3 years in Gordon College, more than a year in SBMA.

There's so much that I hope to express. Please don't take this as a critism. These are mere observations. I am for progress and development and everyone is, right?

By daisyduck

DENR: No tree cutting in Subic

MANILA, Philippines – No trees will be cut for any project inside the Subic Freeport, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Thursday.

In a press conference, Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza also said his agency is taking control of environment concerns in Subic.

“There will be no tree cutting in Subic. We need environmental accountability there and we are committed to protecting the trees,” Atienza said.

Atienza said the controversies “have put into question the ability of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to enforce environmental laws” inside the former US naval facility.

In a statement, SBMA chief Armand Arreza said he respects the DENR decision to take over environmental concerns at the freeport.

“We also wish to reiterate that the SBMA remains committed to the protection of the environment and will seek the DENR’s reconsideration,” said Arreza.

He said he welcomed the DENR’s intervention in the wake of reports about plans to cut trees for a hotel-casino project in Subic.

“This will also be an opportunity for us to clear ourselves of the negative insinuations leveled against us,” said Arreza.

“At the same time, we wish to assure the public that all 366 trees at the project site remain intact to this day.”

Atienza said he was not opposed to the entry of foreign investors in Subic “but they have to follow our rules when it comes to the environment.”

He said the project should either be transferred to another site or should incorporate the trees.

On existing environmental compliance certificates, Atienza said the DENR would review all ECCs already issued by the SBMA.

A memorandum of agreement was signed in 2006 between the DENR and the SBMA granting powers to the SBMA to issue their own ECCs.

Last year, the Korean-owned Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp., a shipbuilder, was assailed after it cut down trees in an islet it had leased to build one of its facilities.

In November, the Korean-owned firm that planned to build a $120-million casino hotel came under fire after its plan to cut down more than 300 trees was exposed.

The trees in both cases were part of areas in the former US naval facility considered as old-growth forests.

By Alcuin Papa - Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Scubasurero’ goes to Subic

NATIONAL Police Chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa and his team of divers and three beauties of Mutya ng Pilipinas conducted a coastal clean-up in Ocean View beach in Subic yesterday.

In a brief speech, Verzosa explained to participants in the coastal clean-up his “Scubasurero,’ a component of the ‘Pulis Makakalikasan’ program of the PNP.

Verzosa led the coastal clean-up and was delighted by the overwhelming support he got from local officials and environment advocates.

“We commend our law enforcers’ efforts to do their part for the environment. One of the chief tenets of a good police officer is ‘maging makakalikasan’ – to work towards environmental protection.”

He said that with a stronger green program, “we’ll see a commitment to protect not just people, but crucial ecosystems as well. Protecting coral reefs, forests and watersheds will increase overall productivity,”

‘Pulis Makakalikasan’ is expected to fortify the environmental protection campaign of the police organization.

James Gordon said of ‘Scubasurero.’ “We believe that the PNP is equipped with ample resources to safeguard our seas. We thank PNP Chief Verzosa for bringing his Scubasurero project here.”

The top cop also local police and officials in Subic. “We need to work together to help preserve this beautiful coastal town,” Verzosa said.

--People’s Journal

GREEN PEACE FORUM ON CLEAN AIR

The City Council Committee on Environment Protection, Lands, Housing & Zoning

cordially invites you to the,

GREEN PEACE FORUM ON CLEAN AIR

Discussion on the Proposed Subic Bay Coal Power Plant -

Possible Impact on the Environment, Tourism, Health & Marine Life

Invited Speakers from Environment Group Greenpeace
South East Asia + Respiratory / Pulmonary Medical
Specialists + Marine Life Experts + Tourism Business Operators

Friday, July 4, 2008 from 1:00 to 4:00
in the afternoon at the Function Room 2F
of the Olongapo City Convention Center, Olongapo City