Gearing up for 2024 Peñafrancia Fiesta

By Mylce Mella

Stakeholders for the "Naga Na! Linig Na!" Single Use Plastic Reduction Program met on July 16 at the JMR Museum for a new spark of commitment sharing in time for the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta.

The UPAA Camarines Sur Environment Committee, in collaboration with the LGU Naga Solid Waste Management Office, held a productive stakeholders meeting for the "Naga Na! Linig Na!" Single Use Plastic Reduction Program.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the business sector, junkshop association, various line units of LGU Naga, the academe, the youth sector, and the Archdiocese of Caceres.

Guest speakers and panelists were, Aileen Lucero of EcoWaste Coalition and Archie Abellar, National Zero Waste Coordinator who shared their knowledge on how to reduce the use of single use plastic and tips on how to mobilize the community to not only be aware but make caring for the environment part of their daily lives.

During the meeting, the 2023 commitments were revisited and new commitments were crafted for 2024, focusing on reducing single plastic waste during the Peñafrancia Fiesta, Undas, and such reduction be mainstreamed.

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1. Reducing plastic use decreases pollution, especially in Naga's basin context. It prevents non-biodegradable plastics from worsening flooding and protects marine life from ingesting plastic and polluting our waters.

2. Reducing plastic waste minimizes microplastic contamination, leading to a healthier community.

3. Our ancestors and grandparents practiced sustainability by using biodegradable materials, and we are reaping the benefits of their foresight. Let us do the same for our children and grandchildren.

Ibanan po nindo kami in this movement to reduce plastic use and make Naga a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community for future generations.

The efforts of the stakeholders significantly decreased the single use plastic waste collected during the Peñafrancia Fiesta last year. According to the city's SWMO, headed by Engr. Joel Martin, there was a 21% decrease last year compared to the data in 2022.

Present during the meeting aside from UPAA and SWMO were representatives of NCPC, CEPPIO, INECAR (Institute of Environmental Conservation and Research), MEPO (Market Enterprises and Promotions Office), Archdiocese of Caceres, Villa Caceres Hotel, Junkshops Association, DTI, DepEd, Camino de Peñafrancia, Rotaract.