Ban cuts 20% of plastic industry jobs

MANILA, Philippines – An industry group is pushing for segregation, collection and recycling of plastic bags, instead of outright ban on the use of plastic.  

This was the proposal of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which was taking up the gudgels for the local plastic manufacturing industry. 

“To date, 20% of the workforce [in the plastics industry] have been affected,” said PCCI vice president Edgardo Lacson.

The local manufacturing industry is made of about 300 local manufacturers and processors of carrier bags, employing about 175,000 workers, according to Lacson.

Several LGUs in Metro Manila have already pushed for the banning of plastic bags in commercial establishments in their area, including Pasig, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Pasay.

More local governments are poised to follow.

PCCI said the use of plastic bags is not the cause of flooding and drainage clogging but the people’s indiscriminate throwing of waste in the environment. 

An attitude change, according to Lacson, is the more sustainable solution to the solid waste problem experienced in Metro Manila and the some parts of the country.

PCCI said the national government should require LGUs to strictly and fully implement Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

PCCI said the need for the government to establish guidelines on the use of environmentally-acceptable materials is required under Section 29 of RA 9003. – Rappler.com