Bayong

Use of bayong pushed

Monday, 22 August 2011 A Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Residents should patronize the use of "bayong" instead of plastic bags in their daily activities.

Councilor Edgardo Bilog, in a proposed resolution, said the city government should encourage this as a measure to help in the worldwide campaign to reduce toxic wastes and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Bilog said that since plastic bags are "waste materials that can add to the upshot of climate change," residents should learn to avoid their use and instead turn to bayongs.

"Bayong is an old fashioned bag usually made of bamboo strips, pandan leaves and other raw materials that are in abundance in some parts of the nation. Nowadays they are not only being used just for market purposes and for harvesting crops such as fruits and vegetables but could also be toted by students and professionals going to school or offices since weavers are now producing fashionable (ones)," Bilog noted.

He said bayongs could also be deemed as a "symbol of cognizant consumer and a memento of an exotic place or unique tradition for a tourist."

"Its use by people from the lower and upper social classes may be encouraged and if marketed will have an expected earnings of some P520 million per year as per Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) estimates," Bilog noted.

He said there are government agencies like the DTI, who are willing to help the local government units in training interested weavers to enhance their skills and knowledge and encourage industry production and make it a part of a government livelihood program and protect our domestic markets from the influx of imported fabric bags from China and other countries.

Bilog's proposal will be discussed by the city council soon.

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