A CEBU City Councilor wants the ordinance prohibiting business establishments from using and selling plastic bags implemented on certain days of the week.
During last week’s regular session, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia filed a draft ordinance, amending City Ordinance (CO) 2343, which regulates the use and sale of plastic shopping bags every Saturday.
The City Council passed the measure in 2012. A year later, it was expanded to include Wednesdays. Garcia, though, wants the plastic ban schedule to include Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. He pointed out that the rampant use and “irresponsible” disposal of plastic bags have clogged the city’s drainage system.
This would mean that stores and establishments are advised to encourage customers to use sacks, cloth bags or baskets as alternative container for their purchased products.
“There is a need to regulate the use and sale of plastic bags in order to limit its proliferation and negative effects to our drainage system and the environment,” said Garcia, who heads the committee on laws.
If approved, violators will be fined P5,000 and/or face imprisonment of not more than six months. The council referred for review the proposed amendment to the vice chairman of the committee on laws.