THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro, through the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro), is set to start the full implementation of the plastic bag regulation on January 15, 2020.

Clenro Chief Armen Cuenca said the full implementation is supposed to be on January 2, but some market vendors and other establishments requested for an extension until January 14.

"Pinuntahan namin yung mga markets at mga establishments at nag-request sila for an extension until January 14 para maubos ang stock nila [na mga plastic bags]," Cuenca said.

(We went to the markets and establishments, and they requested for an extension until January 14 so that their stocks of plastic bags will drop.)

"So we agreed and then starting January 15, pag may mag-violate (if there will be violations), we will be issuing the Ordinance Violation Receipt," he added.

In the City Ordinance 13378-2018 or the Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance, business establishments, fast food outlets, pharmacies, food kiosks, convenience stores and ambulant vendors are restricted from using plastic cellophane in packing their goods.

Cuenca said under the ordinance, plastic bags can only be used for packing meat and fish.

Beginning January 15, the City Government will start to issue an Ordinance Violation Receipt for those who are caught using plastic bags to pack dry and wet goods that are not meat or fish.

Violators, Cuenca said, are required to pay the administrative penalty within 72 hours in the amount of P3,000 per bag.

If a violator wasn't able to pay the said penalty on time, Cuenca said they will write a demand letter and subsequently file a case.