Ex dad urges stiffer fines for anti-plastic ordinance

THE BAGUIO Regreening Movement asserted its call for local legislators not to amend Ordinance No.35 or the Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio Ordinance.

In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment Code, BRM Chairman Erdolfo Balajadia stressed the need to strengthen the penalties under the ordinance instead of amending portions of the law favoring some sectors.

“Can we properly monitor every establishment which uses biodegradable plastic bags? It is hard to monitor this. Let us put more teeth in the ordinance

instead of amending it,” Balajadia said.

The “Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio ordinance,” Ordinance No. 35 series of 2017 prohibits establishments from providing any customer with any plastic bag or polystyrene foam container for goods items purchased or serving food or drink.

“Aside from the penalties, let us also put in a provision there that immediately, there should be a closure of the establishment and confiscation of their licenses to operate,” Balajadia added.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office head Reineer Balbuena suggested for the city to go directly to the source of the biodegradable plastics and for the Trade and Industry Department to identify the retailers or distributors of plastics.

“If we fail to stop the move by the council to amend portions of the plastic ordinance because they will have to go through legislative process of the city, then what we suggest is that we put more strength in the penalties under the ordinance,” Balajadia added.