STARTING October 1 this year, the City Government will start implementing the plastic ban regulation to put into the consciousness of Kagay-anons that plastics do more harm than good.
The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) said they will start the campaign by ordering establishments to use only plastic bags every Wednesdays and Fridays.
Clenro chief Engineer Armen Cuenca said this will serve as transition period until the city implements a full-blown ban on January 1, 2019.
Cuenca hopes this practice will cause a behavioral change not only for business owners but also for consumers used to purchasing plastic bags as containers for the products they bought.
Cuenca said they will intensify their information campaign particularly directed to business establishments for them to be prepared.
The plastic regulation shall apply in all commercial establishments, such as malls, fast foods, pharmacies, markets, food kiosks, and even sari-sari stores.
If the ban starts, Clenro shall penalize store owners with a penalty worth P3,000 for every plastic bag issued.
An average 1,000 tons of garbage generated in the city per day will be reduced by about 50 percent if the campaign will be successful.