Discard those bags

Because of hazardous pollutants brought about by plastic bags used in numerous forms of business and even in day to day activities of our people, the wisdom of using the old but reusable items container called bayong is re-emerging. In fact, its manufacture may even prove to be a good business once again, to the delight of its old makers.
A great percentage of trash that cause soil, water, and air pollution comes from plastic materials particularly plastic bags. These are the very materials that clog waterways and drainage systems thereby causing flooding in various areas of the country. Moreover, much of our ecology has been damaged because of them. It is not surprising then that in some places, the use of plastic bags is prohibited.

But these are isolated and limited institutions that impose such prohibition. In Eastern Visayas, for instance, it is probably the Leyte State University alone that prohibits, in its campus, the use of plastic bags. If one decides to buy anything in the stalls and shops inside the campus, one cannot expect from shop owners to be provided with such plastic bags. One has to use a basket or this traditional bayong in order to carry his items bought.

The idea of discarding plastic bags indeed makes sense. Besides those mentioned above, these usually-used-once trash contribute a lot to the toxic emissions that destroy the ozone layer, that cause the life-threatening global warming. Left alone to rot in the ground, these plastic bags tend to last for around a hundred years before finally disappearing from existence. Imagine the damage they can do throughout all those years, while in the process of decaying.

We might as well help in the minute ways we can in avoiding the use of these plastic bags, preferring the bayong to all these. These bayongs may cost a little but they can be used repeatedly till they get destroyed. In fact, they can be subjected to repairs many times if need be. They are friendly to the environment, to the pockets, and to the small manufacturers who may be difficult to find nowadays after the plastic bags proliferated.

The authorities should ban the making, sale, and use of plastic bags in all places. This may not be that easy knowing the preference of plastic bags that people may have to the ancient bayongs. But this can be remedied by massively educating the people regarding the hazardous effects of plastic bags to human health as well to the environment. People in the long run will cooperate given the necessary education over these things.

These are urgent decisions to make. Our deteriorating environment cannot wait. Discard the plastic bags now and just buy those woven bayongs from the nearest markets.

By: Doms Pagliawan

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