BRING YOUR OWN TUMBLER Agusan del Sur officials, led by Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza (leftmost), Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chair Allen Capuyan, bring along their water tumblers during the tribal wedding event on June 11, the opening of the Naliyagan Festival. —AGUSAN DEL SUR PROVINCIAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE PHOTO
SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR—As the town opens its weeklong Naliyagan festival here on Sunday, Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. reminded the public that single-use plastics are banned in town throughout the festivities.
Visitors joining the celebration were seen onstage bringing tumblers for drinking water while Capitol workers brought along tumblers and drinking flasks during the opening tribal parade.
Booths selling food and drinks on both sides of the festival grounds use paper cups or glasses for juices, soft drinks and beverages and porcelain or washable plastic plates for food.
Cane earlier warned vendors and buyers not to bring plastic bags to carry goods they were going to buy or sell, saying that the provincial government would close down the booths of violators.
“If you believe in this advocacy, help us,” Cane told reporters on Monday, after he reiterated the ban on single-use plastics within the 200-hectare government center of the provincial Capitol.
Requires a little discipline
Bringing single-use plastic at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center in Patin-ay, Prosperidad town, where events are held, is also strictly prohibited.
“[This is] a little discipline to us, people of Agusan del Sur. I know we will get used to it,” Cane told reporters. “This will make Agusan del Sur free from further damage [that single-use plastics] bring to the environment.”
He said that the province may already be lagging behind the good practices already done by big malls, where mallgoers were made to use reusable bags when they bought something.
The ban on single-use plastics is covered by Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the memorandum circular that the governor issued on Sept. 30, 2019.
Cane’s memorandum circular was temporarily suspended at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, when plastic bags were used in the distribution of food assistance to constituents but the suspension was lifted since April 1 this year.
On June 1, Cane issued the same reminders during the opening ceremonies of the Magdiwata Festival at the San Francisco municipal hall grounds.
The governor also lauded Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo for implementing the ban on single-use plastics during the festivities that lasted until June 4.