PRA seeks amendments to regulations on plastics

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu Chapter) is asking the Cebu City Council to amend the law recently filed regarding the strict regulation of the use and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags among retailers.

“The business group and the consumers must be given enough time for educating, organizing, and implementing them for environmental resources and management program and adopting technologies to utilize non-biodegradable waste as a good source for renewable energy in the long run,” read the PRA-Cebu position paper signed by the group’s officers led by president Melanie C. Ng.

The retailers said instead of an outright ban on the use of plastics, such as shopping bags pouches and polystyrene foam such as Stryrofoam, players are suggesting that the City will implement it in phases and using categories.

Part of the retailers’ suggestion is for the City to fully implement the ordinance in two years.

Authored by City Councilors Edgardo Labella and Nida Cabrera, any person engaged in the direct selling of plastic and Stryrofoam packaging materials should reduce the sale by at least 50 percent of the volume and should provide products made of eco-friendly materials or recyclable bags as an alternative.

“The 50 percent reduction should be based on its annual gross receipts of the immediately preceding year following the affectivity of the ordinance,” PRA-Cebu stated.

Among the other suggestions included was the use of biodegradable containers or eco-friendly packaging materials for goods sold at the wet market section of the City Public Markets such as fruits, vegetables and other similar goods.

The retail group also raised the need for the City Government to impose an “environmental fee” for every plastic bag or Styrofoam container used by consumers. The fee proposed fee ranges from P5 to P15.

The fee will be itemized on all invoices or receipts issued to consumers and further issue a coupon for every transaction. The coupons will then be submitted to the City Treasurer’s Office upon the renewal of business permits.

PRA-Cebu prayed that the need to protect the environment “is shared by every sector and that the responsibility is shared by everyone.”

The poor disposal of plastics was among the factors blamed for the flood that hit Metro Cebu last January, because these clogged the city’s waterways and canals.

PRA-Cebu held yesterday its 5th Regional Conference dubbed “Next Level Retailing: Discover, Differentiate, Deliver,” at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Players from all over Visayas and Mindanao, including from Luzon learned different innovative ways in retailing, as well as adopting ways how to differentiate with other players is one of the key approaches in order to stay in the business.

“We are now entering into the next level retailing landscape. We have to keep a brisk with the new trends and changing buying attitude of the consumers,” Ng said.

Yesterday’s event was part of PRA-Cebu’s thrust to sustain the booming retail industry here, and help the new retail entrepreneurs to succeed, amid a very competitive environment.

Retail experts such as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) flourishing garment brand “Folded & Hung), Ronald Pineda, is expected to talk about the “Best Practices for Next Level Retailing,” while keynote speech will be addressed by President and CEO of Robinsons Land Corporation Frederick Go. (FREEMAN)