DTI-7 revives “Project Bayong”

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade Industry (DTI-7) has urged Cebuano retailers to reinforce its support on greening the economy.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte reintroduced the agency's "Project Bayong," a job-generating activity which aims to develop abundant local raw materials and existing skills in the countryside into a product which has potential demand for both local and export markets.

The project may be incorporated to the existing program of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu) called "Every Bag Counts".

"Project Bayong takes into consideration environmental preservation and consideration. It only utilizes abundant raw materials in the region, but also places non-biodegradable items. The bags can also be fashionably designed to attract bigger market, both domestic and export," Caberte said.

This, in effect, will generate opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to engage in value-adding activities.

Aside from using biodegradable bags such as the "Bayong," Caberte also encouraged retailers to make other local-made products be available in their respective stores.

The retail sector is part of the target sectors being looked at by the German technical agency or GIZ, the Promotion of Green Economic Development or ProGED.

Recently launched by GIZ in collaboration with DTI, ProGED is actively encouraging the tourism supply chain to make use of cleaner production processes and the promote a safer environment for workers.

Meanwhile, PRA - Cebu is still active in promoting its “Every Bag Counts” project, requiring member retailers to avoid using plastic shopping bags and instead utilize alternative biodegradable bags.

Initially, PRA-Cebu planned to create a bulk-buying facility to make volume of biodegradable shopping bags for members in order to save cost.

However, unless an ordinance of a local government unit, which will require stores to use only environment-friendly plastic bags, especially in groceries and other retail outlets, PRA-Cebu clarified they can only advocate on this project and cannot require members to totally avoid using plastic bags. /JMD (FREEMAN)