New Regulation in Manila - Could This Really Be True?

[Jollygoodfellow]

4 hours ago, Guy F. said:

When we visited Puerta Princesa (Palawan) a few years back it was very clean. A tour guide told us there was a fine for the first offense of littering and certain jail time for the second offense. So law enforcement has worked in at least one place.

Personally from what I see online many things have changed. And not just online I see establishments abiding by the law.   Example of this is which I did not know is that certain days they can give you plastic bags but nit the other. I knew in supermarkets but now found out that it also applies to fast food or restaurants. 

I also know its more of a city thing but as someone said, slowly but surely.

Thing is I bet many complaints when it starts to feel like a western country so how can Expats win other than perhaps see some good things for our beloved Philippines. 

 

[Mike J]

8 hours ago, Guy F. said:

When we visited Puerta Princesa (Palawan) a few years back it was very clean. A tour guide told us there was a fine for the first offense of littering and certain jail time for the second offense. So law enforcement has worked in at least one place.

Agree about Puerta Princesa.  El Nido on the other hand looked like a garbage truck had blown up in the middle of town. 

[Tommy T.]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

Agree about Puerta Princesa.  El Nido on the other hand looked like a garbage truck had blown up in the middle of town. 

There is a lot of rubbish floating around in Davao. People dump it on vacant lots across the street from their homes or leave bags of it out on the street on pick up day and the dogs tear them up and scatter it. They burn some of it and you can smell the plastic mixed in with the rest. No wonder so many rats!

[Tommy T.]

8 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Personally from what I see online many things have changed.

Here's an example from today's news that illustrates your point:

MANILA, Philippines — At least 20,000 people participated in the cleanup of Manila Bay yesterday as part of the observance of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2019.

“More and more are now taking part in the cleanup following the campaign we launched on Manila Bay. Many have realized how important it is to take care of our natural resources, that is why the huge number of participants,” said Undersecretary Benny Antiporda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Apart from employees of government agencies concerned in the cleanup, the participants included members of the academe and environmental and civic groups.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said simultaneous cleanup activities took place yesterday within the Manila Bay region and in river systems that drain into the bay.

He cited that last Jan. 27, over 10,000 people took part in the launch of the rehabilitation program dubbed the “Battle for Manila Bay.” Since then, activities have been held to clean up canals and bodies of water that drain into the bay.

Cimatu said yesterday’s event, dubbed the “Battle for Trash-Free Manila Bay,” aims to sustain the momentum of restoring Manila Bay to its former glory.

DENR cleanup sites were in Barangay 649 in Baseco, Manila, the coastal areas of Navotas Centennial Park, and the river systems of Tullahan-Tinajeros and Marikina River, which drain into Manila Bay.

Other cleanup sites were the Navotas Tanza Marine Tree Park; Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area; By the Bay Central Park in SM Mall of Asia and Gloria Maris at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex, both in Pasay City; and Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Cimatu said the DENR aims to reduce the fecal coliform level in Manila Bay to 100 most probable number per 100 milliliters to make its waters fit for swimming.

The cleanup is in line with the 2008 Supreme Court ruling ordering the DENR and 12 other government agencies to “clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay for the enjoyment of the present and future generations.”

Established in 1986 by the Washington-based environmental group Ocean Conservancy, the ICC is recognized as the world’s largest volunteer effort for the ocean’s health.

[graham59]

When Filipinos are educated to CARE about (not) throwing every piece of litter and general crap on the ground next to them,  and punished when are found doing so, NOTHING is going to change.  All else is mere 'window-dressing'. 

The filth and garbage covering the country is an absolute disgrace, and hardly likely to impress any potential tourists...an industry that could truly rescue the Philippines from poverty. 

Not many middle-class tourists want to sit on a beach strewn with rubbish, while watching mangy dogs sitting around scratching or defecating.    

 

 

[Gary D]

The plastic bag was known as the Philippines national flower as you could see it blooming all over the countryside on the trees and bushes.

[Dave Hounddriver]

9 hours ago, Gary D said:

The plastic bag was known as the Philippines national flower as you could see it blooming all over the countryside on the trees and bushes.

They are just using good environment management skills.  If you leave a plastic bag out in the hot sun and wind it will disintegrate inside of a year, try it yourself and see.  But if you bury it in a landfill the scientists will tell you it will be there for hundreds of years and if you toss it in the ocean the scientists will tell you it will strangle a sea turtle.

EDIT:  It is actually too bad that plastic bags disintegrate so fast in the hot sun and wind.  If they didn't, some enterprising Filipinos would be building roofs or tarps or houses out of them.

Edited September 23, 2019 by Dave Hounddriver

[Mike J]

16 hours ago, Gary D said:

The plastic bag was known as the Philippines national flower as you could see it blooming all over the countryside on the trees and bushes.

The Philippines is also renowned as a catch and release fishing paradise.  Each time they catch a fish, they release a plastic bag. 

[gerrysanders]

Nothing is ever enforced past the 2nd month of it's commencement.

Angeles City had a big regulation enforcement to get makeshift vendor shanties off the the roads, enforcing no parking on many streets too narrow to accommodate parked and doubled parked cars, removal of obstructions in general, removal to trikes using the road a their personal parking area  and sidewalks cleared of obstructions, where they exist. Now, 2 months later, everything is back to as before. Clogged streets illegal vendors squatting, and near impossible to drive again.

Clean up was nice while it lasted.

 

[hk blues]

14 hours ago, gerrysanders said:

Nothing is ever enforced past the 2nd month of it's commencement.

Angeles City had a big regulation enforcement to get makeshift vendor shanties off the the roads, enforcing no parking on many streets too narrow to accommodate parked and doubled parked cars, removal of obstructions in general, removal to trikes using the road a their personal parking area  and sidewalks cleared of obstructions, where they exist. Now, 2 months later, everything is back to as before. Clogged streets illegal vendors squatting, and near impossible to drive again.

Clean up was nice while it lasted.

 

As I see it, the regulations are often no more than paying lip service - they officials have to be seen to be doing something but maybe their hearts are totally in it?