That would be one small step for one man, one giant leap for Metro Manilans.

No, we are not talking about launching somebody from the National Capital Region into outer space.

We are referring to the plan to make the entire Metro Manila plastic-free.

And, indeed, why not when some cities within the NCR have already done so.

And Mother Nature would surely smile as soon as the ban is imposed.  

We lend our voice to the Metro Manila Development Authority which on Sunday urged other local governments to follow the example of the cities of Muntinlupa, Taguig, Quezon, and Makati Cities in banning plastic bags, styrofoam, and similar packaging materials by next year.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the rest of Metro Manila’s components Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, Manila, Pateros, Valenzuela, San Juan, Pasig, Marikina, Caloocan, Parañaque, Navotas, Pasay, and Malabon should support an all-out ban on plastics.

“I expect next year the 17 local government units would all be simultaneously i mplementing the ban,” Tolentino was quoted by a broadsheet as saying during his agency’s regular radio program. “Muntinlupa initiated the effort followed by Las Piñas and Taguig.”

He said Makati and Quezon City had their own ordinances banning plastic bags by 2013, and had given their constituents a year to prepare for the ban’s implementation.

The MMDA chief urged the mayors to have their own plans to ease the harmful effects of global warming and climate change.

He said he had met with Lucille Sering, vice chairman of the Climate Change Commission, to discuss the potential economic impact of disasters on climate change.

“Our main discussion focused on the increased involvement of the local government units in Metro Manila to take action toward responding to the call to mitigate climate change,” Tolentino said.

Shopping malls and supermarkets are the main users of plastic bags and similar packaging materials. Styrofoam is mainly used as cushion for sensitive electronic devices, office equipment, and home appliances.

Some commercial centers have shifted to the old brown paper bags and non-plastic packaging materials while some manufacturers have replaced styrofoam with natural fibers in packaging their products.

While seemingly indispensable to modern living, plastic bags and styrofoam form the bulk of solid waste that fill dumpsites, clog waterways, and worsen floods.

Environmental groups have serially called for a total plastic ban precisely to address these problems and preserve the environment.              

In this case, such a ban is no longer dictated by political correctness but survival instinct.