PRA-Cebu to launch "Every Bag Counts" campaign

CEBU, Philippines - In its bid to immediately implement “green retailing” campaign in Cebu, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu) announced its contribution to do away with plastic shopping bags and will soon launch the “Every Bag Counts,” campaign in the next few weeks.

PRA-Cebu president Melanie Ng said that the group has embarked on a one-bag-for-all initiative in order to drum up awareness of using [only] environment friendly shopping bags.

“We are trying to convince our members to require consumers to bring their shopping bags,” Ng said.

She said after the floods that recently ravaged Metro Manila, many Cebuanos thought about the possibility of the city suffering the same fate. “At the rate that we are accumulating trash – from all the plastic refuse we produce – we just might see that happen to us soon. Fortunately, an enterprise-led advocacy is now gaining ground to educate and encourage all Cebuanos to do away with multiple plastic bags or just stick to one.”          

To start the campaign, the organization has already tapped its members and their suppliers for the design and production of the official PRA-Cebu Green Bag, which will then be used by all members to be re-used by consumers.          

PRA-Cebu also plans to launch a city-wide information campaign targeted at end consumers, educating them about the importance of minimizing trash and its impact on the environment.          

“While some members of PRA-Cebu are already implementing their own green initiatives, they still expressed their commitment to Every Bag Counts,” Ng stressed that “the sooner we can implement this, all the better for all Cebuanos.”

PRA Cebu Director Chester Lim, together with co-chair PRA Cebu Director Janel Gaisano are tapped to lead this laudable project.

Plastic bags and packaging have been blamed by local government cleaners, even in Cebu, for clogging waterways that contribute to floods - a perennial problem in most coastal cities. In fact, Cebu City alone produces more than 400 tons of garbage a day, mostly plastic.

Cebu will pioneer the strict implementation of using only “green bags” for shopping in the country. This is expected to have a faster result as the private sector or the retail owners are leading this campaign.

According to Ng, introducing the “Every Bag Count” campaign is only a start of an extensive “green retailing” campaign that will be implemented by PRA-Cebu.

Earlier, Steven T. Cua, president of Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Associations (PAG-ASA), an association of 162 supermarkets around the country, urged Cebu retailers to start up implement “green retailing.”— Ehda M. Dagooc