Ban on single-use plastic products pushed

Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya wants to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and use of single-use plastic products.

“With our dependence on agriculture, plastic pollution also poses a grave threat to our food security. Disaster risks and hazards arising from plastic pollution may put farms at risk of flooding, resulting in wastage of agricultural products along with its threats to a balanced ecology. Microplastics leaked in our bodies of water may also put public health at risk as it gets into our food chain,” Gasataya said.

He recalled that in 2018, flooding occurred in Bacolod despite the city-wide flood control project.

He said that when made an investigation, he found plastic garbage clogged in the sewers and waterways from years of improper disposal.

Gasataya filed House Bill (HB) 8853 which provides that all business enterprises must prohibit single-use plastics.

Under HB 8853, retailers will charge consumers a minimum of 15 for each piece of single-use plastics they use.

The amount collected by retailers shall be reflected in the official receipt. Twenty percent of the amount will be kept by the business enterprise to cover the cost of the single-use plastics, and 80 percent will be remitted quarterly to the Special Fund created under the proposed act.

A discount of 15 shall be given to consumers who bring their own containers for take-outs and purchase of food and beverages.

HB 8853 also bans the importation of single-use plastics and provides that all used single-use plastics be recycled.

For VAT-registered enterprises, establishments, and stores found violating the proposed Act, the following are the penalties: first offense – a fine of 110,000; second offense – 1250,000 fine and suspension of business permit for six months; third offense – 1500,000 fine and suspension of its business permit for one year; and fourth offense – 11-million fine and revocation of business permit and ineligibility for application of business permit for a period of five years.

The bill calls for the creation of a Special Fund for Single-Use Plastic Regulation, which shall be used for the establishment of recycling centers and capacity-building of LGUs and local law enforcement agencies.