TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial ordinance that seeks to ban the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable materials used in packing and bagging is now approved and passed on the third and final reading by the members of Leyte provincial board.
Entitled as “The Anti-plastic Ordinance of 2011 of the Province of Leyte,” this was authored by Leyte’s First District Board Member and Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Roque Tiu.
Said ordinance is now waiting for the sign and approval of the provincial governor of Leyte Carlos Jericho Petilla and will take effect immediate implementation after one year of its posting and publication as required by Republic Act 7160. After three years of its effectivity, a total ban on the usage of plastic bags styrofoam and styropor receptacles shall be prohibited in all business or commercial establishments including but not limited to market vendors, sidewalk vendors and ambulant vendors.
The creation of said ordinance was defined in Section 3 which states that the objectives and purpose on enacting it was “to effectively regulate the use and the disposal of plastic bags, plastic bottles, styrofoam and styropor and other plastic receptacles in commercial establishments, stall, and wet market and in households in municipalities within the territorial jurisdiction of Leyte and in the city of Baybay.”
On same section it also states that it also seek to reduce the proliferation of plastic bags and other receptacles made of plastic littering the environment; to promote the use of alternative and eco-friendly packing and bagging receptacles and to supplement all existing reasonable and practicable measures undertaken for the protection of the environment.
However, the ordinance also made some exception to the reduction and prohibition on the use of plastic packing or bagging, among those excepted are products such as ice, ice candy, ice water, sugar, salt, coffee, powdered milk, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, butter, rice, corn, mongo and other perishable products.
Cooked food with sauce or soup are also exempted, however, it should be packed in regular size cellophane or styrofoam or styropor for proper handling when taken-out in the food establishment.
Paper bags, paper pouch, cloth bags and alternative and eco-friendly packing or bagging materials such as “bayong”, native baskets, paper bags, paper pouch or cloth bags, non-plastic sacks, sturdy reusable shopping bags are among those listed to be used as alternative materials to be us
Violation on the provision of said ordinance would mean for a fine of P500 or community service equivalent to four hours for its first offense; a fine of P1,000 or community service for a period of six hours for its second offense; and a fine of P1,500, community services of eight hours and/or imprisonment not exceeding two months at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
For violation of business establishments in the name of a corporation, an additional penalty of a suspension of business permit for a period of one month for their second offense and revocation of business permit for the third offense.
Public officers or employees who shall violate the provisions shall be punished with a fine of P1,500 and shall be subjected to administrative disciplinary actions without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate civil or criminal action. (ROEL AMAZONA)
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