LOOK: Misamis Occidental rolls out use of bamboo straws

MANILA, Philippines — The province of Misamis Occidental has taken one step forward towards becoming an ecological-friendly community as it started selling out reusable “bamboo straws,” a green initiative seen to help the world in countering the worsening problem on plastic pollution.

In a Facebook post, Jaylo Estoque of the provincial tourism office said the bamboo straws are now being sold for 10 pesos each at Misamis Occidental Enterprise Development and Research Center in Oroquieta City.

https://www.facebook.com/Olyaj.estoque/posts/2119196008136209

Estoque, also the manager of the said pasalubong center, told INQUIRER.net that their office convinced Concepcion town to create these straws as products marketable to everyone considering that the mountainous town is in abundance of bamboo plants in the area.

“Kasi bandang bundok na ang area nila at marami rin ang bamboo sa kanila. Para dagdag income na rin sa mga indigenous people,” he said.

The idea sprang out as they visit Bukidnon province, Estoque added, wherein the use and distribution of bamboo straws are commonly widespread.

“Nagpunta po kami sa Bukidon. Nakita namin na may tindahan doon na nagbebenta ng bamboo straws. Nagka-idea kami since marami namang bamboo ang Misamis Occidental, why not copy them, nakakatulong pa kami sa nature,” he continued.

Estoque also encouraged the public mostly tourists to shun the use of plastic and shift to bamboo straws, saying that these products are not only eco-friendly but also a “reusable” alternative.

Straws have become a convenient partner for various beverage drinks and single-use plastic straws are slowly becoming a threat to the environment.

“Hindi na po kailangang gumamit ng plastic straw. Pangmatagalan po ang bamboo straw. Kahit ilang beses niyo siya gamitin. Hugasan niyo lang at patuyuin,” he further pointed out.

Meanwhile, the ecological effort of the province quickly went viral on social media, earning the praise and admiration of Filipinos online.

As of this writing, Estoque’s post already amassed almost 3,000 reactions and 4,000 shares.

A couple of weeks ago, a cafe in Siargao Island also became an online hit after it rolled out the use of “Lukay” straws that are made of palm leaves or coconut fronds.

The Philippines is listed as one of the world’s leading plastic polluters of the ocean, according to environmental watchdog Greenpeace.

A study of British packaging supplier Rajapack noted that between 4.8 to 12.5 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year, fearing that if this consistently happens, there would be more plastics than fishes in the oceans by 2050. /jpv