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[av_heading heading=’Plastic bag ban in city starts July 1′ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Saturday, May 27, 2017
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ILOILO City – Using plastic bags as wrapping, bagging and/or packaging materials will no longer be allowed in the city beginning July 1.
The local government enacted Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-403, or the Non-Biodegradable Plastic Bag Regulation Ordinance, on Oct. 8, 2013.
The ordinance gave all establishments four years from its effectivity to gradually reduce the use of plastic bags. The total ban was set to be fully enforced this year.
“No establishment, ambulant or itinerant vendors, market vendors, and the like shall utilize or provide plastic bags as packaging material to customers,” read part of the ordinance.
Covered by the ordinance were sari-sari (variety) stores, market vendors, hawkers or bolanteros, supermarkets, department stores/malls, groceries or restaurants, canteens, fast-food chains, bakeries, coffee shops, hotels, catering services, and other similar establishments.
However, the ordinance permits some items to be packed in plastic bags with no handles, holes or strings, provided the wrappers do not exceed 8 inches in width and 12 inches in length in its unexpanded form.
Such items were food “with consistency,” including hot or cold cooked food, such as those sold in restaurants, carenderias, eateries, and the likes, and items such as flour, sugar, coffee, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, ice, ice candy, and the like.
The “indiscriminate use and disposal of plastics” has “deleterious effects,” the regulation ordinance stated.
In addition, all establishments were required to post notices in conspicuous places within their premises bearing the words, “This is an environment-friendly store. Please bring your own reusable shopping bags (Iloilo City Plastic Bag Ordinance).”
The ordinance encouraged the use of alternative packaging materials, such as reusable bags, woven bags, cloth bags, rattan baskets, shopping bags made of recycled waste paper, and other bags made of biodegradable materials like banana leaves, water lily and corn stalk, among others.
Establishments were also urged to devise and provide incentives for the use of environment-friendly packaging or wrapping materials, which may include the establishment of a “point system scheme” or “express lane” for customers.
Violators will be penalized with a P500 fine and the confiscation of non-biodegradable plastics on first offense; P700 fine, confiscation of non-biodegradable plastic bags and suspension of business permit for one week on second offense; and P1,000 fine, confiscation of plastic bags and cancellation of business permit on third offense.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office was tasked to lead the implementation of the ordinance./PN
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