Travel & Tourism

PPSRNP management temporarily postpones IECs on single-use plastic ban due the enhanced community quarantine

By Gillian Faye Ibañez

March 18, 2020

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) management has temporarily postponed its information education campaign (IEC) on the impending implementation of single-use plastic ban ordinance in the city.

Elizabeth Maclang, park superintendent, told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Tuesday, March 17, this is due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Puerto Princesa, which was adopted by the City Government from President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive on Monday evening.

“Nag-bago po kami ng plan, two days’ duty lang muna kami and then shifting. Monitoring-monitoring na lang ng lahat, ‘yong mga urgent na lang muna. May mga post kasi kami na hindi puwedeng iwanan so nagtwo-two days two-days shifting kami like sa UR (Underground River) two days papasok, halimbawa three groups sila sa PPUR mismo doon sa park and then skeletal lang sampu-sampo kada dalawang araw and then iba na naman,” said Maclang.

Maclang said they still expect to conduct the planned these series of IECs before the ordinance’s implementation this coming mid-week of April.

She said they will wait for further announcement of the City Government pertaining ECQ until March 30.

“Basta hanggang March 30 rin kami mag-a-antabay kasi ‘diba ang sabi naman ni mayor ‘pag wala naman tayong mag-positive [na COVID case] hanggang March 30, baka i-request na hindi tayo kasama doon sa enhanced [community quarantine] situation,” said Maclang.

In an earlier interview with Maclang Saturday, March 14, she said IECs will be done within the four barangays covered by PPSRNP namely Barangays Cabayugan, Tagabinet, Marufinas, and New Panggangan.

“May example, halimbawa, magdadala sila, ‘Ito ‘yong tinatawag na single-use, [kung] ano ‘yong mga exemption, ano ‘yong tinatawag na styro, ano ‘yong exempted, scenario-making’,” said Maclang.

She said the park personnel will be scheduled to cover a barangay at least once a week to conduct the IEC.

Maclang said this will still be a series of education campaigns to properly prepare the park on the upcoming implementation of single-use plastic ban ordinance this April.

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