Friday, June 21, 2013

Make Up Your Mind, Are You Pro or Not?

As far as I know, Quezon City was among the pioneer Cities who implemented the “No-plastic Policy”. It was bombarded with criticism at first, but it pushed thru and I salute them. I know it was a good call since plastic is 1 of the main causes of flooding in the Metro during rainy season and it takes century to decompose. But actually I knew that since 2010, SM already applies this scheme via their MOB (My Own Bag) Wednesdays, which they encourages customer to bring reusable bags for their grocery/shopping items or the items will be placed in paper bags or carton boxes in lieu of the traditional plastic bags. What an effort to save Mother Earth.

But just recently, we went to SM Hypermarket in the Block (SM North EDSA) for our weekly grocery. Since it was unplanned, we were not able to bring our reusable bags. My in-laws was so kind to lend us 2 bags but I changed my mind the last minute knowing we could asked for a carton box instead (just like what we did at Landmark grocery just 3 weeks prior).

Just for the record, we lived in Bulacan, we usually do our grocery at the nearest grocery store. It was our 1st time again at SM North after the implementation of the said Ordinance.

So upon checking-out, the usual cashier’s spill was said, I was surprised to hear the biggest shock of my life. They will not allow us to use carton box or paper bags, they do not offer such but ONLY PLASTIC BAGS FOR P2/EACH! Ano?? And I asked Ano again for her every answer. I just can’t understand. She even said it’s been long SM grocery’s policy, like since December 2012 pa daw. ANO?? I’m in Quezon City, was I? Pano nangyari yon?

I wanted to complain, I wanted to understand why. I hated that I was not given an option, I hated that I was not given a chance to “go-green”, for my kids’ future. I asked for the manager but I knew I would just hear the same explanation so I decided I’d report it to the City Government instead, I work in a government office, I’m sure I could use some connections. This is a clear violation of their Ordinance.

But then again, I happen to see phrases at the counter as I sign my slip, 1 of those says (not verbatim though), The City Government discourages the use of paper bags and boxes to help contribute to the Environmental Fund. Ah, ‘yon naman pala… So, it’s okay to destroy the environment so long as we have BIG fund to save it.

Okay, so I rest my case.   

36 comments:

  1. That's crazy..not allowing you to use your own carton or recycle bags to hold your groceries.

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    1. You can use your own, but in case you don't have, you are forced to buy plastic bag.

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  2. Bad! Cruel! So nagbenta pa.. Ayos ah. The advocacy of going green was just put to waste!

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    1. Oo nga eh. I am not sure if go-green talaga sila, kumita pa eh.

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  3. we live in QC and we're just a few blocks away from SM North EDSA. we always do our groceries at the main mall's supermarket. and yes, that's how they do it there. either you bring your own bag or pay for Ph2 for each plastic from them. donation something daw. i also don't understand but ganun. that's what they do also if you purchase at the department store. another thing that i don't like at the grocery is that the bagger just puts everything inside your bag or plastic, not considering if it's soap and meat together. kaloka, di sinosort ng maayos. tsk tsk.:-(

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    1. Ang alam ko kasi pwede mo ipalagay sa used cartons diba, sa Landmark ganon naman ginagawa nila.

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  4. Nakakaloka! Ano ba talaga? Hay questionable motives nga naman. Here in Davao, we have no-plastic policy rin. But stores use oxo-biodegradable plastic bags. Are those fine naman kaya? Hmmm

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  5. Ganun nga, you have to pay for the plastic bags if you don't have your own. Pero biodegradable plastic ang gamit ng SM diba? I know that's no excuse. Ako i also always forget to bring my reusable bags, unlike nung hindi pa uso ako ang laging may dala. hahaha.

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    1. I'm not sure, parang hindi naman. Pwede naman kasi sana ilagay nalang sa used boxes ng mga merchandise nila diba, like karton ng noodles.

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  6. Is this an exception to the rule? In my opinion, using the MOB policy of SM every Wednesday is not effective since there are only few that went for grocery every Wednesday compared to weekends.
    By the way you are also from Bulacan, right? I know that there is already provincial ordinance on plastic ban here but I think it is not yet implemented or strictly followed here.

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    1. Ah, hindi ko alam na may ganyang ordinance din sa Bulacan. Weekly naman kami nagmamall pero hindi ko nakikita advisory.

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  7. sana they still offered brown bags or cartons kahit may bayad instead of plastic. :(

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    1. I was more willing to pay for carton eh, kaso wala din daw.

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  8. that also happened to me at SM way back when QC is enforcing the ordinace...from that day on, i never forgot my shopping bags

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    1. SM lang diba? Sa Landmark pwede mo ipalagay sa used cartons eh.

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  9. ohh..I hope they just offer the paper bags instead of plastic..

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  10. Hmmm this is the first time that I've heard something like this. Maybe because we are already accustomed in bringing our own reusable bags. Perhaps, what we can do first is to try to ask their management why is it like that. I remember in Southmall they have the brown paper bags.

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    1. Only in SM I guess, in Landmark, you can request for a used carton eh.

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  11. There must be a mistake. I believe SM encourages the use of paper or the BYOB. The bag may be made of canvass or cloth. One time, we forgot to bring our bag, so we were made to pay for the plastic that we would use.

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    1. Diba they wrapped in a paper. Your inconvenience will make you bring your own bag.

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  12. I've heard somebody complain about this before. How can SM still get away with plastic bags... E ano kung disposable bags pa din? If it is a ban, then there shouldn't be available to sell - even if it means having this added to the Environmental fund.

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  13. Although paper is biodegradable, you are killing trees to make paper. With plastic naman, you pollute. Hirap din kung saan lumugar sa issue na ito. :(

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    1. I was asking for a used carton, which they can recycle. They don't need to cut another tree for that.

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  14. Yes, they don't offer boxes like some groceries do. Perhaps you can put your recycled bags in your car so in case you plan to go shopping, your hubby will just have to get and you won't have to pay for that extra P2.00.

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    1. That's actually our practice, in case we had unexpected shopping in QC, but we just hitched on my in-laws ride that time.

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  15. Parang useless din naman un ordinance about banning plastic if they encourage to buy plastic instead. Sabi nga nun mga broadcasters, un green fund na yan ay very questionable e. Besides why they encourage buying pa e binaban na nga un plastic di ba. That means para kumita pa din for what? For saving the environment, ang gulo hehe..

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    1. Exactly my thoughts. Ay ewan nalang masasabi ko.hehe

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  16. I see, not to worry about the environment anymore as long as they have BIG fund it's OK.. Wow! speechless!! di huwag ng mag effort magsulat ng ordinance if di naman pala put into action.. for future reference na din make sure they announce it pra di naman magexpect ng unexpected yung iba just like what happened to you.

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    1. Hay naku, ewan ko sa mga Mambabatas. Siguro most of the Quezon City dwellers knew of this system. Baka 1st time ko lang kasi after so long kaya hindi ko alam.

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  17. im pro saving earth pero kc mnsan madaming loopholes and naggng ironic. plastic hirap madisintegrate, paper naman cant hold heavy wet stuff and cutting trees naman... cguro nga better ung sako-bags but un nga impulse shopping/grocery dapat instantly my ecobag ka lagi?.. :3 thats y, in my simple ways i try to help nalang to reduce/reuse/recycle.

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    1. That's why I'm asking for a used carton sana para we can do those 3Rs diba?

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  18. what a contradicting stand on a very pressing environmental issue. it's the first time i'm heard of it as well. i do hope the funds are being put to good use, huh? but really, they didn't have to discourage the use of paper bags and boxes just to force people in a way to pay for those plastic bags. let the public use their free will to decide which is beneficial for them.

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    1. Exactly, let the consumer decide, whether to help build the fund or do the 3Rs (reduce/reuse/recycle).

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