MASANTOL -- Mayor Dan Guintu has vowed to strictly implement the plastic-free ordinance here which started on Monday.
"Hindi lahat mapapasunod pa, pero hihigpitan namin hanggang sa mawala ang plastic," he said on Wednesday.
Guintu noted that the ordinance was approved last year but they implemented it only this year as public market vendors requested to sell out their remaining plastic items and Styrofoam packaging materials.
Officials also said that they already issued a memorandum to some public market vendors and other establishments last week.
An official said that Councilor Epifanio "Boboy" Lacap and Councilor Christopher Bondoc initiated the ordinance entitled "An ordinance banning the use and distribution of single use, carry out bags and polystyrene by commercial establishments in the municipality of Masantol."
Councilor Ralph Nulud said they are planning to teach women here how to make eco-bags and paper bags.
"We are aiming to implement it next year. We want to at least offer a livelihood project for them," he said.
Authorities said that they will penalize violators of the ordinance P500 for the first offense; P1,000 for second offense; and P2,500 and imprisonment of not more than 90 days, aside from the cancellation of license to operate for one year for business establishments for the third offense.