By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
BARANGAY 55-B
(Salet-Bulangon) is set to regulate the production of charcoal after a barangay
ordinance was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In the said barangay
ordinance, production of charcoal is prohibited within 500 meters of
residences.
Laoag councilor Franklin
Dante A. Respicio said the original barangay ordinance was returned by the city
council as it included residential areas from nearby barangays. Respicio
explained that the adjacent barangays should not be covered.
Correcting this, Barangay
55-B officials amended the ordinance, reducing the areas covered to 500 meters.
Meanwhile, Laoag councilor
Joseph H. Tamayo, chairperson the committee on environment, said he was about
to propose a city ordinance with the same subject, prohibiting the production
of charcoal in the city of Laoag.
Tamayo learned that at least
seven barangays in the city are engaged with charcoal-making.
He added that the problem
with his planned ordinance was to find alternative livelihood for persons that
would be affected.
He stressed that the Barangay
55-B ordinance was “highly acceptable” as charcoal-making contributes to air
pollution as well as posing health problems and “kills” forests. He admitted
though that charcoal is beneficial to people but this is not enough to compare
to the risks it pose.
Tamayo then appealed to the
public to help preserve and protect the environment to save them for “our
children’s children”.
Comments
Post a Comment