Muntinlupa mayor orders reduced use of plastic bottles in city hall
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon has ordered a reduction in the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles within the premises of the city hall as part of his environment agenda.
Biazon issued Executive Order No.42 “providing for the marked reduction in the consumption of polyethylene terephthalate bottled water and beverages in the premises of the city hall of Muntinlupa.”
He said that “the harmful impacts of plastic bottles on the environment have been pointed out by scientific savants time and again.”
“The entire life cycle of disposable bottles uses fossil fuels, contributes to global warming and causes pollution,” according to the order.
It cited that “millions of barrels of 'oil are required to produce enough disposable plastic bottles to meet the annual demand for bottled water; the bottling process releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually; disposable bottle waste washes into the ocean and kills around 1.1 million marine creatures each year.”
According to the order, “it has been observed that there is widespread consumption of plastic bottled water and beverages in the premises of City Hall of Muntinlupa, contributing to trash and endangering the environment.”
“There shall be a conscious and marked reduction in the consumption of drinking water and other beverages contained in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in the premises of the City Hall of Muntinlupa (CHM, for brevity),” it added.
The order will cover the main building, People's Center, and the annex building of the city hall.
“Employees, as well as visitors, shall be strongly urged to avoid bringing these items in the premises of CHM,” the order added.
Water dispensers will be placed in strategic areas inside the city where employees and visitors can refill personal water containers. All employees of the city hall are required to bring their own personal water containers.
“While drinking cups made of environmentally-safe and acceptable materials will be provided, the end goal shall remain a marked reduction in the use of PET bottles,” according to the order.