Bedylyn Pacete
August 27, 2023
On August 25, the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance of Bulacan State University issued a memorandum that entails the ban of plastic utensils within the university premises. In a short period of time, university stallholders are set to lead the memorandum's full implementation, followed by the compliance of all of the students, faculty members, and non-academic personnel.
Ma. Cecilia M. Eugenio, an instructor from the College of Arts and Letters since 2014, welcomed the said memorandum with positivity as it promotes an eco-friendly environment. But Eugenio concerns,“Parang ang iksi ng [panahon].” (The transition for this appears short.)
Vendors were only given until September 4 to comply with the demands of the memorandum, and any form of violation equates to penalties reliant on the existing university policies and guidelines, which may include the revocation of vendors' vending permits.
Eugenio claimed that instead of dropping it all at once, it will be better to take it slowly and in phases.
Meanwhile, Vangie, a 41-year-old vendor at university-based bakery Mix and Bread located in front of Federizo Hall, shared her sentiments with The Communiqué about the sudden declaration of plastic ban and how it will directly affect their business.
"Sana naman nga 'di ba, [kahit] isang buwan man lang sana (I hope that at least, even just a month),” Vangie said in dismay after revealing the remaining stocks of plastic containers they have that were set to be used for more or less than a month. But now, it seems the management was left with no choice but to dispose of it due to the ultimatum.
Despite demanding an immediate response on a hasty directive, it was not mentioned anywhere in the abrupt announcement if the administration will provide enough support for the vendors to adjust to the sudden transition in case the eco-friendly alternatives they are pointing to are beyond the usual budget, nor will they take accountability for any possible price imbalances on goods and products sold within campus.
Addressing plastic pollution
With an approximate annual generation of 2.7 million tons of plastic waste, the impact of the Philippines' "sachet economy" puts pressure more than ever on multiple sectors within the country to respond and seize the problem of plastic-use abuse.
Attached to the title of being one of the most developed cities in Bulacan, the City of Malolos also generates a huge portion of plastic waste in the province.
Just recently, the environment watchdog group BAN toxics conducted a "walk for creation" held in Malolos, Bulacan to emphasize the urgency to take action on plastic pollution.
As a partner of BAN toxics on walk for creation, a claimant to be an advocate of sustainable and responsible waste management, BulSU deemed it necessary to imply their mission on their stakeholders by effectively eliminating the use of plastic inside the campus, which is seen as a perpetrator of environmental problems that the administration is trying to resolve.
Instead of the usual sturdy and recyclable containers advised by the administration prior, with the new advisory, all stakeholders are encouraged to bring their own food containers, tumblers, and non-plastic utensils when on campus as a form of participation in the memorandum, and a contribution to the university's mission to protect the environment for future generations.
Challenge for new administration
Just as important as it is to attend to the environmental problems that are lethal for the people, the welfare of those who will be at stake in the decision is equally essential.
As someone who lives in dorms, time and money are said to be important for Danica E. Macayan, a third-year journalism student.
"Magbabago 'yung lalagyan, so siyempre magmamahal 'yun, depende sa kung ano 'yung gagamitin ng mga nagtitinda rito," she said. (Prices will be affected as the containers change, depending on what the vendors opt to use).
Macayan worries about the university's instruction for vendors to immediately adapt eco-friendly alternatives, which may deliberately affect and alter the original prices of on-the-go meals and drinks at BulSU.
Macayan emphasized, "Magiging hassle siya para sa 'min, wala nang time especially sa [hectic na] schedule para kumain sa labas... dito ka na talaga kakain sa loob.” she said. (It will be a hassle for us, it's like there won't be any time, especially in a hectic schedule, no time to eat outside... you'll really eat here inside.)
Aside from dealing with non-environmental-related but destructive pre-existing imbalances in the system condition of BulSU, mainly in room shortages, facilities, schedules, and prevalent unresolved conflict on the curriculum, resulting in excessive units for multiple programs, these are the things about the immediate implementation of the ban that students like Macayan are worried about, not only for her, but also for other affected personnel of BulSU.
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