Loren Commends the Trailblazers in the Ban of Plastic Bags

“ALL IT TAKES IS POLITICAL WILL AND ELEVEN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE STARTED SHOWING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT A PLASTIC BAG BAN CAN BE DONE. I COMMEND THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS FOR BEING IN THE FRONTLINE OF THE BATTLE AGAINST SOLID WASTE AND FLOODING,” SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA SAID.
To date, eleven cities and municipalities have passed local ordinances banning the use of plastic bags within their jurisdiction, and these are: Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila; Batangas City; Antipolo City, Rizal; Burgos, Pangasinan; Binan, Laguna; Los Banos, Laguna; Carmona, Cavite; Imus, Cavite; Lucban, Quezon; Infanta Quezon; and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
“The implementation of the plastic bag ban in as short as six months in the city of Muntinlupa alone has already shown significant decrease in flooding. This is concrete evidence that lessening the use of plastic bags has immediate advantages. Other local government units should learn from Muntinlupa’s best practices and find ways to effectively replicate this practice in their locality,” Legarda stressed.
Along the same spirit of the local ordinances, Senator Loren Legarda has filed SBN 2759 otherwise known as the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011. Said bill prohibits groceries, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food chains, department stores and other retail stores and establishments nation-wide from using non-biodegradable plastic bags. The bill compels companies and consumers alike to shift to responsible packaging – from the one-time-use bags which end up in esteros to the reusable and recyclable bags which are more sustainable in the long run.
“I also urge LGUs to prioritize the implementation of RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act. These 2 measures are complementary. By banning the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, we are reducing the garbage that ends up in landfills, drainages and esteros. I also emphasize that segregation and recycling must be done at all levels – by our citizens, our local governments as well as retail establishments, be they small or large. The reduction of garbage and its effective disposition must be holistic so that we can effectively solve this garbage problem and avert flooding.” Legarda concluded.