Set to further the campaign to eliminate the use of plastic, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. led the distribution of some 6,000 reusable bags at the Pampang and San Nicolas Public Markets on January 16, 2024.

Mayor Pogi said the 6,000 environment-friendly bags were initially produced by the hired tailors and needlewomen from the Angeleño First livelihood program.

“We are going to distribute a total of 100,000 reusable bags throughout the city’s public markets and business establishments,” Lazatin said.

“It has been our promise to prohibit the use of plastics, even styrofoam, by continuous strict reinforcement of City Ordinance No. 431, s-2017,” Lazatin added.

The mayor also visited and inspected the ongoing construction of the new building at the Pampang Public Market during his distribution.

The Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Office headed by Irish Bonus-Llego, assisted in the distribution, which was supervised by Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel.

Calaguas said among those who received the reusable bags were the vendors and business establishments at the Pampang public market, as well as marketgoers.

“Mayor Lazatin wants to promote the reusable bags not just to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags but to make reusable shopping bags that are more convenient, safe, and with a useful purpose and function.

Manuel meanwhile shared that the distribution of the remaining 94,000 reusable bags will follow suit.

The reusable bags were also given to the business establishment applicants last January 4, 2024.

The Angeles City government continues its Plastic to Rice exchange program, which has already collected 2.5 million kilos of plastic that are intended to be converted into cement and bricks.