TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial ordinance that seeks to ban the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable materials used in packing and bagging is now approved and passed on the third and final reading by the members of Leyte provincial board.
Entitled as “The Anti-plastic Ordinance of 2011 of the Province of Leyte,” this was authored by Leyte’s First District Board Member and Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Roque Tiu.
Said ordinance is now waiting for the sign and approval of the provincial governor of Leyte Carlos Jericho Petilla and will take effect immediate implementation after one year of its posting and publication as required by Republic Act 7160. After three years of its effectivity, a total ban on the usage of plastic bags styrofoam and styropor receptacles shall be prohibited in all business or commercial establishments including but not limited to market vendors, sidewalk vendors and ambulant vendors.
The creation of said ordinance was defined in Section 3 which states that the objectives and purpose on enacting it was “to effectively regulate the use and the disposal of plastic bags, plastic bottles, styrofoam and styropor and other plastic receptacles in commercial establishments, stall, and wet market and in households in municipalities within the territorial jurisdiction of Leyte and in the city of Baybay.”
On same section it also states that it also seek to reduce the proliferation of plastic bags and other receptacles made of plastic littering the environment; to promote the use of alternative and eco-friendly packing and bagging receptacles and to supplement all existing reasonable and practicable measures undertaken for the protection of the environment.
However, the ordinance also made some exception to the reduction and prohibition on the use of plastic packing or bagging, among those excepted are products such as ice, ice candy, ice water, sugar, salt, coffee, powdered milk, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, butter, rice, corn, mongo and other perishable products.
Cooked food with sauce or soup are also exempted, however, it should be packed in regular size cellophane or styrofoam or styropor for proper handling when taken-out in the food establishment.
Paper bags, paper pouch, cloth bags and alternative and eco-friendly packing or bagging materials such as “bayong”, native baskets, paper bags, paper pouch or cloth bags, non-plastic sacks, sturdy reusable shopping bags are among those listed to be used as alternative materials to be us
Violation on the provision of said ordinance would mean for a fine of P500 or community service equivalent to four hours for its first offense; a fine of P1,000 or community service for a period of six hours for its second offense; and a fine of P1,500, community services of eight hours and/or imprisonment not exceeding two months at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
For violation of business establishments in the name of a corporation, an additional penalty of a suspension of business permit for a period of one month for their second offense and revocation of business permit for the third offense.
Public officers or employees who shall violate the provisions shall be punished with a fine of P1,500 and shall be subjected to administrative disciplinary actions without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate civil or criminal action. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Samar Is. only needs tourism promotion to raise income of residents, LGUs – Cong. Remulla
TACLOBAN CITY – The government should create a program infrastructure that will drive to promote the tourism capability of Samar to enable its residents to be employed to help improve their living conditions and provide income to the local government units.
This was stressed by Cavite Representative Crispin Remulla who was in the region for a speaking engagement of a graduation ceremony at the Eastern Samar Comprehensive High School.
Remulla said that strengthening the tourism capability of a province like Samar will help to improve their internal economy leading for its residents to have a source of income locally that will make them not seek for employment abroad.
“If we can just develop our tourism potential, nobody can beat us, because we have the best people, the best skills and the most beautiful country,” Remulla stressed.
However, the lack of support from the government like in the local level to the major tourism players and tourism site developers had pave way to the slow development and promotion of possible tourism sites in the country, he lamented.
He added that Samar Island is one among the beautiful places in the country and consider a paradise for tourists as some of its wonders are not yet explored and its scenery is majestic as people traveling along the coastal road will have the pleasure to see various rock formations, islands, the Leyte Gulf and the vast Pacific Ocean.
“But the problem of Samar is that most of its residents are poor, where more than 53% of the population can be considered as a very big problem,” Remulla pointed out..
However, Remulla said that although Samar is abundant with different natural wonders and even minerals that can be mined, its richness can’t be measured in these God given gift but on the skills of its people.
“If only people in the province of Samar has enough skills and knowledge which they can use for livelihood through the help of tourism maybe their condition will improve,” said Remulla, adding that in the province of Cavite, there are more than 200,000 “Waray-waray” residents scattered in four municipalities of said province and 90% of said population are all employed.
He added that the lack of tourism facility support and infrastructure had contributed to the minimal contribution of tourism sector to the economy of Samar provinces.
“If the government can only provide infrastructure and the local government can only give incentives to people who wanted to invest in tourism these would mean a lot of help in areas like Samar,” Remulla added. (ROEL AMAZONA)
This was stressed by Cavite Representative Crispin Remulla who was in the region for a speaking engagement of a graduation ceremony at the Eastern Samar Comprehensive High School.
Remulla said that strengthening the tourism capability of a province like Samar will help to improve their internal economy leading for its residents to have a source of income locally that will make them not seek for employment abroad.
“If we can just develop our tourism potential, nobody can beat us, because we have the best people, the best skills and the most beautiful country,” Remulla stressed.
However, the lack of support from the government like in the local level to the major tourism players and tourism site developers had pave way to the slow development and promotion of possible tourism sites in the country, he lamented.
He added that Samar Island is one among the beautiful places in the country and consider a paradise for tourists as some of its wonders are not yet explored and its scenery is majestic as people traveling along the coastal road will have the pleasure to see various rock formations, islands, the Leyte Gulf and the vast Pacific Ocean.
“But the problem of Samar is that most of its residents are poor, where more than 53% of the population can be considered as a very big problem,” Remulla pointed out..
However, Remulla said that although Samar is abundant with different natural wonders and even minerals that can be mined, its richness can’t be measured in these God given gift but on the skills of its people.
“If only people in the province of Samar has enough skills and knowledge which they can use for livelihood through the help of tourism maybe their condition will improve,” said Remulla, adding that in the province of Cavite, there are more than 200,000 “Waray-waray” residents scattered in four municipalities of said province and 90% of said population are all employed.
He added that the lack of tourism facility support and infrastructure had contributed to the minimal contribution of tourism sector to the economy of Samar provinces.
“If the government can only provide infrastructure and the local government can only give incentives to people who wanted to invest in tourism these would mean a lot of help in areas like Samar,” Remulla added. (ROEL AMAZONA)
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