ILOILO City – Citing the “damaging effects” to the environment of the indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic straws and stirrers, Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda proposed an ordinance banning these from the city.
Environment-friendly alternatives are better used, she stressed, such as metal, paper or bamboo straws and stirrers.
Food service establishments are where plastic straws and stirrers are commonly used but the proposed ordinance covers all business establishments in Iloilo City.
Baronda cited the 1987 Constitution which provides that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.
Plastic is a durable material that cannot biodegrade; it only breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a study (Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean) shows that the Philippines wastes 6,237,653 kg of plastic per day, of which 81 percent is mismanaged.
Under the proposed ordinance, any person violating it shall be meted with fines – P500 for the first offense; P800 for the second offense; and P1,000 for third and succeeding offenses.
For violating business establishments, the fines and penalties are the following:
* P1,500 for the first offense
* P3,000 fine and suspension of business permit/operation at the discretion of the court for the second offense
* P5,000 fine and cancellation of business permit for the third offense
If the proposed ordinance is approved, there would a grace period of six months prior to the local law’s full enforcement to give stakeholders time to prepare.
The proposal is currently with the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on public services, environment protection and ecology. A committee hearing is scheduled on Sept. 5, 2 p.m. at city hall.
Baronda’s proposal is somewhat similar to Akbayan senator Risa Hontiveros’ proposed measure that seeks to ban single-use plastic straws and drink stirrers in the food service in a bid to reduce the volume trash that goes into landfills and to address marine plastic pollution.
Senate Bill No. 1866 (“The Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban of 2018”) prohibits food service establishments and/or other service establishments that serve beverages to offer consumers any single-use beverage straw and stirrer made of plastic or any other non-biodegradable material.
The measure also mandates food service establishments and other service providers occupying fixed spaces, such as sari-sari stores, to prominently display signs informing their customers of their “no plastic straw and stirrer” policy.
Plastic straws and drink stirrers are considered by environmental advocates as “gateway plastics.”
“The measure seeks to effect positive behavioral change among our people. We hope straws and stirrers will become ‘gateway plastics’ to convince people to shift from using plastic to reusable products. If we can persuade the people of the positive effects of not using plastic straws and stirrers, we can also encourage them not to use other single-use plastics such as bags and bottles,” said Hontiveros when he filed the bill last month.
The bill provides penalties for food establishments caught providing plastic straws and stirrers. First offense will merit a fine of P50,000. Second offense, P80,000, and third offense, a fine of P150,000 and the suspension of business permits for a period of one year.
However, the bill said that food service establishments may provide suitable beverage straws to a person who requires a straw due to a disability or medical condition./PN
