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7 of 9 presidential bets support ban on plastic bags


Seven of nine presidential bets support a ban on the use of plastic bags, with Nicanor Perlas ranking first in an evaluation of the candidates’ environment protection plans, according to a survey by environmental groups Greenpeace and EcoWaste Coalition. "Seven of the nine presidential bets who responded to the survey favor an outright or eventual ban on single-use plastic bags and other plastic-based disposable containers, which have been largely blamed for clogging waterways and causing floods and ocean pollution," the EcoWaste Coalition said in an entry on its blog site. EcoWaste and Greenpeace said this was the result of the 2010 Green Electoral Initiative (GEI) survey, which focuses on the presidential bets' environmental platforms. Those supporting a ban included Senators Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Richard Gordon, Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal and Manuel Villar Jr.; Councilor JC de los Reyes, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas and television evangelist Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva. Former President Joseph Estrada and administration standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. did not participate in the survey. A panel of evaluators gave Perlas 8.3 points for his clear-cut proposals on how to improve the implementation of R.A. 9003 (or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), and move the country away from dirty waste disposal towards Zero Waste. Gordon ranked second with 7.65 points, Madrigal 7.6, Villanueva 6.66, Aquino 6.15, Villar 5.4 and de los Reyes 2.15. Estrada and Teodoro both got zero points. Perlas presented a five-point action plan, including accelerating the adoption of zero waste management, restructuring the whole garbage disposal system to enable segregation at source, composting of organic wastes, recycling of non-biodegradable waste, and proper disposal of toxic wastes (including medical wastes), establishing strategic partnerships with civil society and business, highlighting and rewarding cities and towns that have exemplary solid waste management systems, and instituting a well thought-out system of taxes and incentives that can address the challenge of plastic waste and promote sustainable waste management. Meanwhile, Gordon stressed he would use his executive powers to punish consistent wrongdoers. “I would give local governments a firm deadline to properly implement their waste management plans, but if they continue to fail, I will not hesitate to use my powers of supervision and control as chief executive," Gordon said. For her part, Madrigal declared that she will direct the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources within the first 100 days of her office to submit an inventory report of non-compliant local government units and demand immediate accountability. “Zero Waste must be deeply ingrained in our citizens as a cultural practice for it to have nationwide impact," added Villanueva. — with Nikka Corsino/LBG, GMANews.TV

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