FILE PHOTO: A poster opposing single-use plastics, which are deemed a boon for the local retail industry and the so-called sachet market but a bane to the environment. INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — This capital city of Leyte is no longer allowing the use of single-use plastics, including the buntings or banderitas used during fiesta celebrations.
The ban started on January 1, based on the Plastic and Styrofoam Packaging Regulation Ordinance approved by the city council and signed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez in 2023.
Under the ordinance, business establishments, restaurants, fast food outlets, food kiosks, catering services, and the like are prohibited from using plastic or styrofoam or expanded polystyrene foam as food containers.
Councilor Aimee Grafil, the author of the measure, said the ordinance is not only meant to help address the city’s garbage problem but also to encourage the public to use indigenous or reusable bags, potentially opening livelihood opportunities among its residents.
“The ordinance aims to eventually reduce the volume of solid wastes generated in the city, promote the use of indigenous or reusable bags, and provide opportunities for livelihood to communities, thereby upholding health, safety, and welfare not only of the people but including the environment,” Grafil said.
“Banderitas” or plastic flaglets, which are being used during fiesta celebrations, are also banned.
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The City Environment Office said they logged an average of 141 tons of daily wastes. A “significant portion” of which came from plastic wastes.
Violators of the ordinance face fines of P1,000 to P5,000 with the cancellation of the business permit for establishments and imprisonment of at least six months, subject to the discretion of the court, for the public.
The Business Permits and Licensing Office was mandated to conduct inspections and ensure the compliance of the ordinance.
The prohibition on the use of plastics and styrofoam is in connection with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
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Ronan Renz Napoto, founding member of Balud, an Eastern Visayas-based youth-led environmental organization, said the ban sent a strong message to the entire region that it was high time to focus on the state of the environment and move toward progressive practices.
“Tacloban, being the lone highly urbanized city in the region, brings more weight to this call,” he said in a statement.
“However, we are also interested to see how this implementation would go; how would they translate the policy into action; how would the LGU Tacloban would address the varied reactions and the feedbacks from the people,” Napoto added.