Belmonte leads plastic bag ban kick-off in Quezon City
IN order to encourage sustainable practices and promote the campaign on plastic waste reduction, Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina Tanya Go “Joy” G. Belmonte, together with Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department head Andrea Valentine A. Villaroman and personnel from the Market Development and Administration Department, went to Galas, Munoz, Suki, A. Bonifacio, Frisco and Kamuning markets in Quezon City to distribute bayong (woven native bags) and “eco-bags” to market-goers.
A supermarket in Barangay Kamuning was also visited.
This activity serves as the kick-off event in relation to the re-implementation of the City’s Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance that will start March 1. The plastic bag ban prohibits the distribution of plastic bags as carry-out bags in retail establishments throughout the City.
The activity is also part of Quezon City’s celebration of Women’s Month this March, which highlights the role of women in environmental protection.
Under the Kababaihan Para sa Kalikasan movement with the theme “Babae: Tayo ang Pagbabago,” women are encouraged to be more pro-active and be the catalysts for change given their important role in our households and communities.
“We suspended the implementation of the ordinance during the pandemic para hindi po makadagdag sa [so as not to add to the] uncertainty, but now we can manage the pandemic better so itinuloy na natin [we continued the implementation],” Belmonte was quoted as saying in a statement her office issued. “Alam naman natin na [we are all aware that] plastics are one of the greatest polluters of our oceans and bodies of water, clogs our waste streams and pose health risks.”
Supermarkets, malls, shopping centers, fastfood restaurants and other businesses violating the ban will be meted with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P3,000 and revocation of environmental clearance for the second offense and for the third offense, revocation of business permit and a fine of P5,000.