• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Green lanes are expected to be set up in grocery stores and supermarkets in Bacolod City for the convenience of shoppers, who have reusable or eco-bags.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said Sept. 22 that he met with more than 40 representatives of grocery stores and supermarkets in Bacolod Sept. 16, and all of them are willing to come up with g-lanes for shoppers with eco-bags.
The dialogue at the Bacolod Government Center lobby was in line with the local government’s initiative to reducing plastic waste, the mayor said. “We’re very happy on their response and willingness to help reduce the use of plastics.”
Gasataya said he will also discuss the g-lane program with market vendors and other establishments, and will issue an executive order on possible incentives for stores implementing this priority lane and other measures to reduce plastic use.
During the dialogue also attended by City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo, Councilor Homer Bais as chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Ecology, and Atty. Allyn Luv Dignadice, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, some of the store representatives said they have started using cartons and paper bags.
But there are shoppers, who insist on using and even paying for extra plastic bags for the items purchased, they added.
Dignadice said that once g-lanes are established, she expects that more shoppers would start carrying and using eco-bags. “Kung makita nila sa supermarket, may fast lane, I think damo gid magamit sang reusable bags.”
Among those who attended the “Partnership Meeting on the G-lane Program and Plastic-free Future” are representatives of Gaisano branches, Countrymart, KJ Fairmart branches, Lopue’s branches, Savemore, CityMall Mandalagan, Metro Retail Store Group, Kmart, 7-Eleven, GT Wine, Robinson’s supermarket branches, Puregold branches, Unitop, Mercury Drug, and Grace Pharmacy, among others. | CGC
