ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – The city government has started regulating the use of plastic bags and polystyrene foam packaging in all retail and business establishments here to reduce plastic waste.
City information officer Venus Balgua, in an interview, said the ordinance was passed in April 2021 but was not immediately implemented in consideration of the pandemic and the readiness of the covered establishments, entities, or individuals.
In a moratorium that came with the ordinance, the covered establishment were given a transition period of one year from the effectivity of the ordinance to dispose of their remaining non-biodegradable and reusable materials.
“The ordinance is now being implemented and we are hoping for the cooperation of everyone,” she said, adding that the implementation began this month.
Based on Ordinance 2021-09 obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Monday, the regulation covers restaurants, hotels, lodging houses, fast food outlets, sari-sari stores, food kiosks, food stalls, catering services, ambulant food vendors and eateries within the city.
“No covered establishments and entities shall use, provide, sell, or distribute conventional plastic bags as packaging materials of their products to their consumers. No covered establishments and entities shall use, provide, sell, or distribute polystyrene foam packaging commonly known as styropor or styrofoam as food containers for food and other products,” it stated.
It clarified that it does not cover primary packaging of products that form part of the actual product itself hence the actual sale and distribution in the wet and dry markets of unpacked wet goods, unpacked fresh foods, and unpacked dry goods such as but not limited to salt, sugar, flour, grains, are allowed to use plastic bags as primary packaging for hygienic purposes but double plastic bagging is prohibited.
The ordinance also provided penalties for violators ranging from PHP500 for a first offense, PHP1,000 for a second offense, and PHP3,000 and cancellation of business permit or license to operate for one year for a third offense.
The city government encouraged the business establishments and the residents to use recyclable and reusable bags and alternative packaging materials.
“The unabated use of plastic products adversely contributes to environmental degradation and poses a serious health and ecological concern to the city and the residents,” read the ordinance.
It added that monitoring and enforcement of the ordinance will be under the City General Services Office, Public Order and Safety Office, Business Process and Licensing Office, and Market and Cemetery Section. (PNA)
