AT LEAST 10 Ordinance Violation Receipts (OVRs) were issued to violators on Wednesday, January 15, for using plastic cellophanes despite the ban imposed by the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro).
Clenro chief Engineer Armen Cuenca said the violators were either caught still using plastic cellophanes and littering along the streets.
Under the ordinance, the violators will pay P3,000 for every plastic bag used and P500 to P2,000 or 1 to 5 days of community service for littering.
"They have to go to the city hall to pay the fines kay kung dili nila i-settle mapasakaan sila og sumbong or kaso," Cuenca said.
The ordinance also states that plastic bags will only be used to pack meat, fish, fruits and vegetables starting January 1, 2020 while business establishments will not be allowed to use plastic sando bags to pack soaps, dry goods, including cooked food, and other products.
The city government will allow plastics that are “recyclable and reusable” as alternative packaging material.
Cuenca said regulating the use of plastic sando bags can help lessen the amount of garbage dumped in the sanitary landfill in Barangay Pagalungan.
Clenro will also penalize illegal dumping of garbage, open burning, and unsegregated wastes.