Tabuk City, Kalinga― During the regular SP session this Monday, March 01, 2021, the Sangguniang Panlungsod members deliberated for the second reading the ordinance regulating the use of plastic as secondary packaging materials and utilizing Styrofoam as food containers in Tabuk City.
Tabuk City has been having problems with the rampant use of plastic cellophane, sando bags, and polystyrene or Styrofoam as packaging material, hence the proposed ordinance.
According to the authors, despite the serious efforts of the City LGU to segregate biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable waste materials, plastics and other similar materials remain in the city’s waste stream. It is hoped that through the passage of the regulation the problem shall at least be minimized before it spirals out of control.
The main contents of the ordinance
The “Ordinance regulating the use of single plastic cellophane and sando bags as secondary packaging materials and utilization of polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam for food and beverages containers in the City of Tabuk” advocates the use of recyclable, reusable and/or biodegradable alternative packaging materials.
Instead of plastic, reusable woven bags (bayong), cloth bags, rattan baskets, shopping bags made from recycled materials and other bags made of biodegradable materials (e.g.: banana leaves, taro leaves, water lily, corn stalk, etc.) are encouraged.
The ordinance stated that all business establishments should adopt the "Bring Your Own Bag campaign".
Business establishments have 6 months to dispose their plastic containers
All business establishments, sari-sari stores, market vendors, ambulant vendors, food kiosks, and others shall be given 6 months to dispose their remaining inventory and for consumers to adjust and conform to the rules and regulations of the ordinance.
Once approved and enacted, violators of the ordinance shall be fined PhP500 and their prohibited plastic materials confiscated for first offense, while a fine of PhP1,000 and confiscation for second offense. On the third offense, a fine of PhP3,000 and cancellation/ revocation of license to operate in the case of business establishments shall be imposed.
Amendments on the Ordinance
Following several discussions, Councilor Zorayda Wacnang told co-members to amend some parts of the ordinance which require additional information or modification.
“May I suggest that we give the amendments tapno maikabil diay secretariat, like a while ago, I agree… we should indicate, at least indicate the agencies that were involved in the implementation mangamong tun ti IIR na tapos diay organization of the barangay and their share in the collection of citation tickets that’s second amendment so anything else before we move for the amendments of this provisions,” she said.
Wacnang added that the POSO, BPLO, CENRO, Market Administrator, and Barangay LGU shall be tasked to implement the ordinance, suggesting the Deputation of Barangay Officials who shall be deputies to implement the ordinance and issue citation tickets for any violation.
If this is approved, the barangay shall be given share of the collection from citation tickets.
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