Daniela Mauricio September 7, 2023
The ban on plastic utensils conformance deadline lapsed on Monday, September 4, while the province of Bulacan experienced continuous Southwest Monsoon rains.
Classes at Bulacan State University (BulSU) were suspended due to the weather conditions, but the ultimatum remained in effect.
On August 25, the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance dropped the memorandum on banning plastic utensils within the university premises.
The aim is to ban the sale, use, and bringing of plastic utensils (spoon, fork, spork, knife, straw, beverage stirrer, etc.), citing that it is only aligning with BulSU’s “commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible waste management.”
As the ban takes place, stakeholders at the university navigate the difficulties that come with it since only a 10-day grace period was given for them to comply, particularly the vendors.
REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. Recycling posters and signage are displayed on food stalls at the Malolos campus.
Vendors
Various stalls have tried to comply with the order even before the set cut-off. However, switching to eco-friendly alternatives in an instant is no easy task.
The halt in the use of plastic utensils causes dismay among the vendors since those that they have previously purchased will be wasted due to the abrupt announcement.
"Luging-lugi kase hindi na nagamit, e. Tinabi na lang [namin ‘yong plastic untensils]," Aurnie, 37, a vendor from the food stall Siomai Luv told TC.
Another food stall vendor who has been in the business for 15 years has voiced her concern over the plastic utensils that they just bought. According to Mary*, 70, it will be stockpiled directly as a result of the sudden shift.
"Sa ngayon nagpapatupad sila na ‘wag munang gamitin ‘yong plastic straw. E, paano naman ‘yong mga natira namin kung hindi ipapagamit?” Mary furthered. Vendors like Aurnie and Mary commonly buy stocks of plastic utensils in bulk to save more, but such can no longer happen because they have to follow the memorandum. Unlike the two, MC and Licel, who work in the same food stall, were fortunate enough to not waste money. “Buti na lang pumayag ‘yong supplier na ipalit ng wooden ‘yong mga plastic na kutsara,” Licel told TC. But some vendors agreed that Licel’s case could not be applied to everyone as they have different suppliers. According to Licel, her boss only managed to persuade their supplier, and that is why they do not need to buy new stocks of so-called eco-friendly utensils for now.
A red plastic straw can be seen on an empty drink left on a stone bench in front of Federizo Hall, two days after the ban on plastic utensils compliance due date cut-off on September 4.
“Random inspections will be carried out to ensure compliance,” as stated in the memorandum, and failure to do so especially the vendors will be penalized to the extent of their vending permits revoked.
However, according to some vendors, they have not noticed anyone doing the rounds. They also mentioned that they were probably unaware of who had done the inspection.
Students
Although more often students have the purchasing power, some may still share similar feelings or concerns with vendors.
Cath*, a third-year journalism student has also expressed concern about the difficulty that the implementation of the plastic ban brings.
According to her, "Ang pagbababa na bawal na po 'yung anomang klase ng plastik sa pamantasan ay talagang biglaan, kumbaga hindi man lang nakapaghanda lalo na 'yung mga nagtitinda po.” While sympathizing with the vendors and sharing the views of her fellow BulSuans, Maple, a first-year computer science student weighs her thoughts and instead has a positive outlook.
“Para sa akin, mas okay na rin na ganito ‘yong ginamit kasi ‘pag tumatambay kami, ang dami rin naming nakikita na mga plastic na nakakalat lang at para hindi na siya makadagdag sa kapaligiran,” Maple shared to TC right after she bought her lunch at a food stall near the Federizo Hall.
Maple and her friends got used to having plastic spork to easily eat their meal, but now they were surprised that they will be using spork made of wood instead of plastic.
Aside from vendors, faculty members and non-academic personnel, and students have a role to play according to the memorandum.
The former are expected to lead by example in adhering to this ban and to provide necessary guidance and supervision to students.” While the latter, “must adhere strictly to ban by bringing non-plastic utensils and containers for personal use.”
Maple’s parents, according to her, were glad that she will be taking to school a lunchbox and utensils from now on. “Mas prefer ko rin ‘yong may lalagyan talaga para mas alam ko na mas safe ‘yong kakainan ko,” she added.
Prices
Wooden sporks are utilized in some stalls in place of plastic ones in accordance with the "plastic utensils" ban memorandum on August 25.
According to some students like Maple, the prices of food remained still. Even when asked, Licel said they have even lowered the prices of food. “Kapag may dala silang (mga estudyante) ng lalagyanan, nagdadagdag pa kami ng rice,” Licel added. But MC and Licel admitted they are not sure if this will last long. “Sa pagkakaalam namin sa amo namin, mas mahal ‘yong wooden spoons. Hindi po namin ito binili, pinalit pa lang. Hindi namin alam sa susunod ‘pag naubos na ‘yong pinalit namin, kung magkano na ‘yong presyo,” they added. In the past, BulSU has also prohibited the use of single-use plastic, such as ‘Friday is No Plastic Day’ that was launched by Sentro ng Edukasyon para sa Ekonomiya at Kalikasan (SEEK) in 2012 and BulSU Clean and Green Drive in 2018, spearheaded by the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.
In response to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the Philippines, the government has made strides to address the problem through the passage of laws that ban single-use plastic, such as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act No. 9003 of 2000, Republic Act No. 9512 (National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008), and local ordinances that vary regulations across different regions of the country.
Several schools and universities have also taken the initiative to ban or restrict single-use plastic, such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and many others.
Schools have proven to be a great base for aiming for a broader change. With the collective power of over 47,000 stakeholders, making a difference by joining an initiative for environmental sustainability and responsible waste management is an easy undertaking. Calls Students agreed that banning plastic use is a commendable initiative. But it should have undergone careful consideration and collaboration with other stakeholders, they said, so that they are all onboard and no one has to face difficulties for an initiative that has good intentions. Some vendors suggest to the BulSU administration to give them time to use all their stocks so as not to lose money. According to Cathy, “Puwede siguro ipagamit nila tapos ipaubos muna nila bago kami gumamit ng paper straw. Sayang kase e magkano din ang [bili] namin doon.”
The cost of paper straw and other utensils are also relatively higher than that of plastic ones, hence why some of the vendors still don't adhere to the order.
"Mahirap din humanap ng sinasabi nilang wooden straw, wooden spoon, and fork at saka mahal din [ang mga] 'yon", Cathy added.
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