CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) here has decided to step up its efforts against the use of plastic bags.
Since the start of this year, the Cenro implemented the daily observance of the "Plastic Regulation Day," which was previously done every Friday.
The use and sale of all non-biodegradable packaging materials has been regulated in the city since September last year as part of Ordinance 008, Series of 2014, which outlined the gradual realization of a plastic-free city.
All residents, transients, and business operators in the city are expected not to utilize or provide free plastic bags as primary and secondary packaging materials on dry goods to consumers except those pre-packed goods by manufacturers.
The city ordinance set the price of the plastic bags and paper bags at P4.00 and P1.00 respectively. It also prohibits the stores to utilize, sell, or provide styrofoam as packaging material or container for food products for customers.
Last December, the ordinance also covered the prohibition of providing free plastic bags for both dry goods and wet goods.
The plastic-free ordinance will be fully implemented by June 13, 2015, ensuring that no store shall utilize, sell, or provide plastic bags as primary and secondary packaging materials on dry and wet goods to customers except those pre-packed goods by the manufacturers.
In addition, it also promotes the use of indigenous reusable bags or eco-bags as an alternative to plastic bags, which will also encourage livelihood projects on reusable bag-making.
As flooding remains a major problem in the city, the said ordinance was aimed at preventing and mitigating flood occurrences by getting rid of solid wastes that clog waterways and drainages.
In this regard, the plastic-free ordinance was additionally set "to decrease the volume of generated plastic or solid wastes, thus reducing the cost of solid waste management and disposal," the Cenro said.
According to the ordinance, first-time violators will receive a warning with compulsory attendance to a values formation seminar.
A fine of P 1,000 and 3,000 will be meted for second offense and third offense respectively while fourth and succeeding offenses will entail the cancellation of business permit to operate of vendors.