IN A move to bolster waste management, Lapu-Lapu City now prohibits the use of plastic every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, following amendments to its environmental ordinance.
This shift, approved on third and final reading during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, replaces the previous implementation days, Wednesdays and Saturdays, said Councilor Celestino Aying, chairman of the committee on environment and natural resources.
Aying said the adjustment aims to reduce consumers’ and businesses’ confusion regarding the designated days and address increased volume of waste in the city.
The council specifically approved amendments to Sections 5 and 6 of City Ordinance 15-003-2019, also known as the Environmental Friendly Ordinance of Lapu-Lapu City of 2019 Regulating the Use of Plastic and Prohibiting the Use of Plastic Drinking Straw.
Enacted on Aug. 8, 2019, the ordinance seeks to regulate single-use plastics and totally ban the use of plastic drinking straws.
Under the amended ordinance, businesses operating in the city are now required to avoid single-use plastics and instead use paper, rattan, net bags, biodegradable alternatives, or reusable packaging during these three designated days.
The public is also urged to carry reusable bags or containers every day, reinforcing the city’s push for consistent eco-friendly practices.
Section 5 of the ordinance was also revised to expand the list of allowable single-use plastic items permitted for business use.
As stipulated, the City now permits the use of roll bags to package frozen and wet food products including seafood, meat and other moisture-containing goods are accepted, particularly where minimal liquid content is involved.
The new amendment builds on the existing exceptions, which already allow the use of small plastic packaging for condiments such as vinegar and soy sauce, as well as plastic wrappers for ice water and ice candy. It also maintains the exemption for plastic cover caps typically used for soft drink floats.
Meanwhile, the ban on drinking straws remains in effect daily, without exception.
Penalties
According to Section 8 of the environmental ordinance, penalties for violations escalate depending on the business’ classification as small-scale or large-scale.
For small-scale businesses, the first violation will result in a fine ranging from P500 to P1,000, accompanied by a warning that repeated offenses may lead to further sanctions. A second violation carries a fine of P2,000 to P3,000 and a 15-day suspension of the business permit, as issued by the Office of the Mayor.
On the third offense, violators will be fined with P4,000 to P5,000, along with the possibility of indefinite closure of the business.
For large-scale businesses, the penalties are similarly structured but carry higher initial fines. A first offense will incur a fine of P1,000 and a formal warning.
A second violation will lead to a fine of P3,000 and a 15-day suspension of the business permit. The third offense results in a P5,000 fine and the indefinite suspension of the permit.
A fourth violation, for both small and large scale establishments, will lead to a permanent revocation of the business permit by the Office of the Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City. / DPC