ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) declared the ordinance regulating plastic bags and styrofoam use in the municipality of Pavia legal and valid.
During its regular session on Tuesday, June 13, the SP approved and adopted the committee report of 1st District’s Provincial Board member Marcelo Valentine Serag, committee on environment and natural resources chairperson, declaring Pavia Municipal Ordinance 2023-02A “legal and valid.”
Authored by Pavia’s Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Daniel Fajardo II, Municipal Ordinance 2023-02A is entitled “Ordinance Regulating the Use of Plastic Cellophane and Sando Bags as Packaging Materials for Wet and Dry Goods and the Use of Polystyrene, Commonly Known as Styrofoam, in Public Markets, Stores, and Malls in Pavia, Iloilo, and Prescribing Penalties Thereof, and for the Repeal of Municipal Ordinance 2023-02.”
Fajardo is the chairperson of the SB committee on environmental protection.
The municipal ordinance reached Serag’s committee on May 30 for “study, report and recommendation.”
After further study, the SP committee on environment and natural resources concluded that the ordinance is in line with the Local Government Code of 1991 and with Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which declared that “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”
With this accomplishment, Fajardo thanked his committee members, the Pavia SB and Mayor Luigi Gorriceta for their support.
“Plastic cellophane, sando bags, and expandable polystyrene (EPS) foams — being non-biodegradable materials — clog our canals, creeks, rivers, and other waterways, causing floods during the rainy season and causing harm to these waterways and the surrounding communities,” said Fajardo.
Using recyclable, reusable, and/or biodegradable materials as alternative packaging materials, such as eco-bags, woven bags (libon), cloth bags (katsa), and rattan baskets, is highly encouraged, he stressed.
To further promote alternative packaging, stores are urged to implement the “Bring Your Own Bag” (BYOB) program and formulate incentives.
A “green lane” is one in which stores may provide special counters or express lanes to cater to customers who bring their own bags or reusable bags./PN
