SP amends No Plastic bag law

THE 18th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance amending Section 30(g) of Article IX on Plastic Bag Regulation of Ordinance No. 13378-2018, otherwise known as the Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of Cagayan de Oro City.

The ordinance provides that business establishments, fast-food outlets, pharmacies, market vendors, food kiosks, sari-sari stores, ambulant vendors, and the like shall not provide plastic bags and/or sando bags as packaging materials for dry goods and cooked foods to customers.

Under the law, plastic bags with no handles, holes or strings shall be allowed for wrapping of unpacked meat and poultry products, marine products, fresh fruits and vegetables at supermarkets and markets separately to ensure food safety.

It provides that wet goods that are already in plastic wraps, pouches, bags and the like as part of the product packaging shall not be contained further in any plastic bags and promotes the use of recyclable and reusable bags as alternative packaging materials.

The ordinance cites that plastic bags as final packaging of goods in stores shall not be allowed in all commercial establishments every Wednesday and Friday.

Legislators amended the ordinance deleting the phrase “every Wednesday and Friday” in response to the concern raised by the City Administrator’s Office.

In his letter to the City Council, Teddy Sabuga-a, Acting City Administrator said it is the position and understanding that the phrase “every Wednesday and Friday” was included as part of the initial dry-run and information and education campaign drive of the said ordinance before its full implementation scheduled last January 1, 2019.

The intention of the said ordinance is not just limited to the said days, but is to control and regulate the use of single-use plastic to address the pressing issue on environmental concerns, Sabuga-a explained.

The amendment of the ordinance was reviewed and endorsed by the committee on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.