Release of balloons, sky lanterns may soon be banned in the city

The city council passed in first reading an ordinance banning the release of balloons and sky lanterns in the city.

Committee Chair on peace and order and public safety Councilor Maria Belen Acosta passed the ordinance after attempts of several companies with balloon-release events to prevent the passage of the ordinance.

“The balloons released in the open constitute an act akin to littering, throwing, or dumping of waste matters in public places,” Acosta said in her privilege speech.

The said ordinance, however, will not include balloons indoors.

“This is only exclusive for flying balloons. Indoor balloons or non-helium balloons may be properly disposed,” Acosta told reports during side interviews.

Acosta pointed out that balloons may clog drains, pollute water bodies and endanger sea creatures, and trip high-voltage wires.

In time for the nearing of Chinese New Year, Acosta hopes that the Chinese community will also support the local law which bans release of sky lanterns especially that previous laws which somehow affects their culture had been well-supported.

“There is a big possibility that this will be supported because traditionally, Chinese usually use firecrackers in welcoming the New Year yet they supported the firecracker ban,” Acosta said.

Acosta also pointed out that the business sector must not worry with the ordinance since there is no total ban.

“We hope that this will not be labelled as anti-business because this is not an absolute ban. Balloons will still be allowed for as long as it will be properly disposed of,” said Acosta.

The release of balloons during burials will also be banned.

“You can still show your sentiments through other means not just those which harms the environment and the public safety,” she said.

Other regulations of the ordinance are still to be tackled.

“We will also look into the committee hearings the number of balloons that will be banned. We shall study if it is just okay for a single balloon to go into the air because it might still accumulate,” Acosta added.

The ordinance will be in coordination with the Committee on Environment for the committee hearings.

The business sectors, events coordinators, sellers, manufacturers, as well as the Filipino-Chinese community will be enjoined in the committee hearing.

Meanwhile, local environmental groups expressed its support for the said ordinance.

“We are very happy because January is Zero-waste Month. The proposal of the policy is just very in time for the celebration this month,” Chinkie Peleño Golle, executive director of the Interface Development Interventions told reporters.

“There is really a need for this policy. We are fully supporting this policy,” she added.

Golle expresses her hope that the ordinance will be enacted before the campaign period for the nearing midterm elections. (Julianne A. Suarez)