Benguet’s capital town sets green market policy

By Dionisio Dennis Jr.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- This capital town of Benguet has launched a policy urging the use of recyclable bags to reduce residual wastes especially plastic bags in the municipality.

The “green market” policy initiated by the group 1993 & 2002 Public Market Association led by its president, Winston Felipe, said the policy is their counterpart in aiding the local government in managing waste.

He said the policy is also in consonance with municipal Ordinance Number 11 series of 2015.

Authored by Councilor Roderick Awingan, the “La Trinidad Plastic bag, polystyrene and other synthetic packaging materials reduction” ordinance aims to regulate the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable materials in the municipality.

The local government failed, however, to implement the ordinance as soon as it was passed, but is now taking advantage of the private sector’s participation to the environment protection initiative.

During the launching on Monday, Awingan said that the annual garbage collection in the municipality had reached 90 tons.

From the total garbage generation, 3/4 is biodegradable. He also said that the municipality spends at least P2 million for the hauling of garbage to Capaz, Tarlac, which affects the town’s coffer.

 “We thank the association for coming up with their own policy which they have already implemented. This is exactly what we want to do in crafting the ordinance,” Awingan said.

Under the green market policy, stall owners will no longer place goods in a plastic bag, thus market goers are urged to bring their own shopping bags.

Awingan said the ordinance imposes a penalty of imprisonment and fine for violators.

In his message, Mayor Romeo Salda said that the cell 3 at the town’s sanitary landfill which was established in February this year is almost full.

The said cell was originally planned to serve the town for two years. The life span of cell 3 is conceived to be a time leeway for the town to finish cell 4.

 “But with the monthly increase of garbage collection we can only use the sanitary landfill until December this year,” the mayor said.

He said that cell 3 has an extension but can only last for a few months, so the the local government unit needs to fast-track the completion of cell 4.

Salda said something has to be done with the help of the residents to regulate or stop the excessive generation of residual waste to prevent facing bigger environmental and health problems in the near future.

As an initial move to promote the green market initiative, the local government unit distributed eco bags while the stall owners promised reduction of residual wastes as part of the green market policy implementation.

Awingan said the ordinance imposes a penalty of imprisonment and fine for violators.

In his message, Salda said the cell 3 at the town’s sanitary landfill which was established in February this year is almost full.

The said cell was originally planned to serve the town for two years.

The life span of cell 3 is conceived to be a time leeway for the town to finish cell 4.

  “But with the monthly increase of garbage collection we can only use the sanitary landfill until December this year,” the mayor said.

 He said that cell 3 has an extension but can only last for a few months, so the local government unit needs to hasten completion of cell 4.

 Salda said something has to be done with the help of the residents to regulate or stop the excessive generation of residual waste to prevent facing bigger environmental and health problems in the near future.

 As an initial move to promote the green market initiative, the local government unit distributed eco bags while the stall owners promised reduction of residual wastes as part of the green market policy implementation.  -- PNA