DENR revives use of bayong

To bring down the volume of plastic garbage, using the revival of the traditional "bayong" in wet market as a strategy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is bringing its "Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura" (BBBB) program to 13 other provinces this month following its successful maiden implementation at a popular wet market in Cubao, Quezon City.

DENR Secretary Michael T. Defensor said the move to replicate the "Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura" program in the provinces is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 244 which declares the entire September as the "Philippine Clean-up Month" and in observance of the International Day of Coastal Clean-up on Sept. 18 and the Clean Up the World Weekend from Sept. 17 to 19.

Since last April, vendors at the Farmers Market in the Araneta Center have been donning ‘katsa’ aprons imprinted with "Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura" while urging their patrons to use the "bayong" and courteously ask their customers to maximize the space of their plastic bags instead of individually packaging their "pinamili" using separate sando plastic bags.

The facility, which was named as the "Palengke ng Bayan" award for good housekeeping by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last year, has given prizes to lucky bayong users last Sept. 11 in line with its holding of the "Bayong mong bitbit, may premyong kapalit" promo.

These are the Solano Public Market in Nueva Vizcaya, Calapan and Victoria Public Market in Mindoro, Hermoville Satellite in Naga City, Imus Public Market in Cavite, Ilagan Public Market in Isabela, Don Domingo Public Market in Tuguegarao City, Tacloban City Supermarket in Tacloban City, Langihan Public Market in Butuan City, Cabanatuan City Terminal in Nueva Ecija, and Carbon Public Market in Cebu City. Arrangements are underway to implement the program in the Dasmarinas Public Market in Cavite, and Diffun Public Market in Quirino.

As an education tool, BBB aims to inform the market-goers and vendors on the effects of over-packaged consumer goods on the present solid waste problem and encourage the market-going public to practice waste reduction through less packaged consumer goods.

The program likewise targets market administrators and vendors to get involved in waste reduction programs as a key component in their effort to upgrade their sanitary standards similar to the tie-up between EMB and the Farmers Market which was chosen as a pilot site for the campaign.

According to Defensor, the concentration of packaged goods, some are described as toxic and non-biodegradable when disposed of, is a major contributor to the problem of solid wastes in urban centers like Metro Manila owing to the mega city’s "high consumption rates" which is being spurred by its "high population density."

Citing studies made on the buying habits of market goers, Defensor said that they generally prefer using up to the three plastic bags for similar goods or items bought.

However, once the bought items are cleaned at home, Defensor explained, the extra ‘supot’ are just disposed of and contribute to the tons of garbage brought to the controlled dumps or blown away to litter the streets or clog underways.