Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting

By Rey M. Nasol

LEGAZPI CITY—The province of Albay is set on implementing three major pro-environment and pro-health measures in an effort to curb pollution and secure a more productive future for its residents.

Two of these measures—the ordinance that bans the use of plastic and a directive against cutting of coconut trees—were now both set to be enforced while the smoking ban in public places was still being deliberated by the provincial board.

Starting June 1, Albay will ban the use of plastic bags and styrofoams by all business establishments, sari-sari stores, public markets, neighborhoods and up to the big malls.

The ordinance, which was signed by Governor Joey Salceda on February 24, provided for fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 for business establishments found violating the measure and cancellation of business permits for repeat offenders.

Local executives in the province’s 15 towns and three cities have promised to enforce the plastic ban and urged residents to be ready with reusable bags for their shopping or marketing needs.

City Mayor Geraldine Rosal said the ban on plastic bags would be one of the province’s major contributions to solve environmental problems.

On February 24, provincial officials also met with enforcement agencies and owners of commercial establishments in preparation for the ordinance’s implementation in June.

Albay Board Member Arnold Embestro, chairman of the committee on environment of the provincial board, said some commercial establishments here have stopped using plastic bags starting March 1.

The ban on the cutting of coconut trees in Albay was imposed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala effective Jan. 30, 2012, based on a representation made by Salceda.

According to the statistics of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Bicol, the coconut industry in the region supports at least 2.1 million coconut farmers and their dependents.

Albay ranks fifth with an average yearly coconut production of 38,593 metric tons harvested from 40,180 hectares, while Catanduanes turned out 13,807 MT from 14,375 ha.

Camarines Sur had the highest volume of copra in 2010 with 93,833 MT harvested from 119,045 ha, followed by Sorsogon (97,738 MT from 97,692 ha), Masbate (87,478 MT from 91,076 ha) and Camarines Norte (82,002 MT from 85,375 ha).

The smoking ban, while already enforced in Legazpi City, was still being deliberated by the provincial board’s committee on health.

The smoking ban was launched in February last year yet by the Smoke-Free Albay Network, a body created by Salceda, but “the persistent attempt of the tobacco industry in the policy-making process is impairing the smooth passage of the proposed ordinance,” claimed Rose Olarte Orbita, head of Add-Vantage, a nongovernment organization (NGO) partner of the province in pushing for a smoke-free Albay.