Subic issues 'no plastic' policy

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority through its Ecology Center has implemented the ‘No plastic policy’ to retail establishments inside the Freeport zone.

In a memorandum issued by the Ecology Center dated December 27th, it said that no retail establishment in the Subic Bay Freeport shall provide to any customer at the point of sale plastic bags as packaging material on dry goods.

Instead, a reusable bag or the brown paper bag shall be used or provided.

The policy took effect January 1.

It added that retail establishments dealing on wet goods may use plastic materials as primary packaging material only.

However, alternative primary packaging materials, like old newspapers, scrap papers, banana leaves, reusable microwaveable containers, among others, shall be used whenever possible.

Styrofoam and other similar materials as containers for food, produce and other products were also banned.

“We hope that the neighboring communities around the Freeport can implement the same policy, besides it will be nice for people to go back to the habit of using brown paper bag, reusable bags or even the trusty “bayong” instead of using plastic and other non-biodegradable materials,” said Angel Bagaloyos.

Bagaloyos explained that anyone caught using plastic or other banned materials will have penalties ranging from a simple warning for the first offense or a fine of P5,000 for the second offense and a P10,000 fine and suspension of operation for the third and final offense.

The policy also included a penalty clause for retail establishments ranging from a simple warning or P5,000 fine or P10,000 fine and suspension of operation on first, second and third offense respectively. (Anthony Bayarong/Sunnex)