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[av_heading heading=’Total plastic bag ban starts July 1 in Iloilo City’ 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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Monday, June 26, 2017
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ILOILO City – This Saturday, July 1, the city government will start enforcing Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-403 that prohibits the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags.
Violators will be apprehended, according to Jovan Dela Peña, focal person for the implementation of the ordinance.
“Random ang aton paga-obrahon tungod sang kalaparon sang syudad,” he said.
Citation tickets will be issued.
The ordinance was approved on Oct. 8, 2013 but establishments were given four years to gradually comply.
This year starts the ordinance’s full enforcement or total ban of plastic bags.
“Our environmental aides were trained to detect biodegradable plastic from non-biodegradable plastic,” said Dela Peña.
They would also be aided by a machine that can determine if a plastic bag is biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
“We will test the plastic if we are in doubt,” said Dela Peña.
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.
“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 with no handles, holes or strings to be packed in plastic bags, 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, carinderias and the like, 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.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office was tasked to lead the implementation of the ordinance./PN
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