No exceptions for plastic ordinance

TWO establishments asking for an exemption to the Baguio City Anti Plastic ordinance were told to follow the law.

Mart One store manager, Veronica Dela Fuente has requested the City Council to allow the store to use biodegradable plastic bags as well as Raffy Rillera, manager of Ace Hardware who asked for an exception to the ordinance which took effect May 1, Tuesday.

The local council referred the request of both establishments to the city legal office but stressed the implementation of the new law will be in effect compelling all to follow or face penalties.

The ordinance will cover all business activities and establishments in the city including city government schools and offices prohibiting the use of 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.

Establishments are

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.

At the city market, buyers are urged to bring their own containers to pack their purchases of meat and fish as well as their personal bags to carry goods.

The penalties are reprimand or immediate closure for establishments without business permit for first offense; P1,000 fine for second offense; P3,000 fine and eight hours community service for third offense and P5,000 fine and suspension of business permit for six months for fourth offense.

Last week, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, issued an administrative order, “Regulating the sale, use and distribution of plastic carry/ shopping bags and Styrofoam in the City of Baguio.”

Administrative Order No. 45-2018 spelled out the guidelines to be adopted in regulating the sale, use and distribution of plastic carry or shopping bags and Styrofoam in the city while the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are still being drafted.

City Environment and Parks Management Office Assistant Department Head Ruben Cervantes, a member of the monitoring and oversight committee, said the draft IRR which defines the roles of the various stakeholders and the parameters of the implementation based on the provisions of the ordinance will be subjected to a write shop and solutions forum with the various stakeholders on May 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Baguio City Hall Multi-purpose Hall.

The output will later be presented to the City Council for approval.