Rojas: Previous bans encouraged businesses to use plastic cups
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Bacolod City Councilor Cindy Rojas recently revealed she plans to propose an ordinance that would ban the sale of bottled soft drinks and the use of pointed barbeque sticks during city festivals, particularly the annual MassKara Festival.
She cited a letter from Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, suggesting such a ban within festival sites.
While the letter was referring to the upcoming MassKara Festival, which is scheduled to take place from October 8 to 28, Rojas said the ordinance will pertain to all festivals held in the city.
Rojas cited the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival, which took place in May, saying a similar ban was in place, which encouraged business to sell soft drinks in plastic cups instead of bottles. She said the practice ensures public safety.
However, both the province and the city have recently made moves discouraging the use of plastic. Last month, following clean-up activities at the Dapdap area of Sipaway Island, located at Sitio Caimito in San Carlos City’s Barangay San Juan, hundreds of plastic waste items were retrieved from local waters.
Negros Occidental Provincial Environment Management officer, Atty. Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa remarked, “Just say no to single-use plastic.”
In addition, Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. forwarded an endorsement before the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) earlier this month proposing the prohibition of plastic straws in the city.
Gamboa claimed the continued use of plastic straws, along with irresponsible disposal, poses a hazard, especially to public health and the environment.
Meanwhile, Ebreo also stressed the safety aspect of the proposed ban, pointing out a stabbing incident involving a barbeque stick during this year’s Bacolaodiat Festival.
Incidentally, the SP passed a similar resolution in 2016, authored by City Councilor Caesar Distrito, which prohibits the carrying of glass bottles, along with barring the use of pointed barbecue sticks, at festival sites./DGB, WDJ