The city government of Dumaguete City has ordered a plastic ban in its public markets to strengthen the campaign to reduce plastic use and better manage garbage collection.

Dems Demecillo, city public information officer, said the the Ordinance No. 231 or “No Plastic” policy is in compliance with the efforts of local officials and residents to implement the anti-plastic ordinance as means to best manage the city solid wastes.

The city ordinance bans the use of plastic bags in public market.

Demecillo said the policy will also cover fis ports, slaughterhouses and terminals of public utility vehicles.

The “No Plastic” policy advises market goers to use recyclable plastic bags, baloyot/bayong (woven straw bags), net bags, catcha bags or sack bags for their goods.

The order only allows plastic bags as primary packaging materials.

It prohibits offer to sell or provide free plastic bags to customers as secondary packaging materials for wet goods; plastic bags as packaging for dry goods; provide polystyrene (styrofoams) as packaging material and disposal of plastic shopping bags.

Violators may face P500 fine for fist violation; P1,000 for second violation, and P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months or upon the discretion of the court, which also includes cancellation of licenses/permits to operate for a period of one year for business establishments.

Demecillo encourages private establishments, residences and other institutions to adopt the same policy so the regulation on plastics use in the entire city can be adopted and enforced.

“With this, the city government is asking support for the campaign to regulate the use of plastics not only in government establishments, but in all private businesses and institutions as well,” he said.

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