Bizmen urged to abide by anti-plastic law
BUSINESS establishments in Baguio City were reminded of the existing ordinance regulating the sale, distribution and use of plastic bags and styrofoam, prior to its full implementation in May next year.
In the weekly "Talakayan sa Environment Code", City Environment, Parks and Management Officer Cordelia Lacsama reiterated the full implementation of the ordinance on the phase out use of plastic use.
Dubbed as “The Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio Ordinance,” Ordinance No. 35 series of 2017 will cover all business activities and establishments in the city including city government schools and offices.
The measure prohibits business establishments from providing any customer any plastic bag or polystyrene foam container for goods or items purchased or serving food or drink, take out or dine in to customers in polystyrene containers or in plastic bags.
Under the ordinance, these establishments will be mandated “to provide or make available to customers for free or for a cost, paper bags or reusable bags or containers made of paper or materials which are biodegradable, for the purpose of carrying out goods or other items from the point of sale.”
"The ordinance have stated penalties in relation to the insistence on the use of plastics by big establishments but we have to study the provisions of the penalties or violations to be cleared on who should be held liable for the violation, would it be the establishment or the customer who would use it? I would recommend however that both be held liable," the CEPMO chief said.
Based on the measure, it does not prohibit customers from using bags of any other type that they bring to the store themselves for carrying away goods in lieu of bags provided by the store, except plastic bags.
Baguio Re - greening Movement chairman lawyer Erdolfo Balajadia expressed the ordinance should indicate stiffer penalties for the would be violators to strengthen its applications which ultimately benefits the people and most of all, the environment.