SORSOGON CITY — The Province of Sorsogon will soon join the growing list of local governments which imposed ban on the use of plastic bags within their jurisdiction.
This developed following the introduction of a proposed ordinance at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan this week which will prohibit all business establishments in the province “to use, sell or distribute non-biodegradable plastic bags and packaging materials.”
The proposal noted that “the wanton disposal of non-biodegradable plastic bags and packaging materials created immeasurable damage to the environment considering that these plastic bags do not biodegrade but break down through abrasion and tearing into small toxic bits that contaminate the soil, waterways, and marine environment where they are mistaken for food by animals, thereby killing seabirds, marine mammals, and countless fish annually from ingestion of or entanglement in marine debris.”
However, business establishments are still allowed to use plastic bags and packaging materials provided they are biodegradable. It also allows the use of paper bags, cloth bags, recyclable or reusable bags, and other similar containers as long as it is from biodegradable materials.
Based on the definition in the proposed ordinance a non-biodegradable plastic bag “is a type of flexible packaging material made of thin plastic film that is used for containing and transporting goods and othr products and which does not degrade or easily decompose.”
Once approved by the provincial board, violators will be imposed a P2,000 fine for the first offense, P3,000 for second offense and/or an imprisonment of up to four months while on third and succeeding offenses a fine of P5,000 and/or an imprisonment of not more than eight months plus cancellation of business permit could be imposed.
Collected fines from violators will be apportioned as follows: 40 per cent for the provincial government and the remaining 60 per cent to be divided equally between the municipality and the barangay where the offending establishment is located.
The Philippine National Police, local environment officers, and barangay officials will be deputized to implement the proposal once officially passed by the provincial board. MEDIA SOLUTIONS