The City Government will start the implementation of its “single-use plastic and polystyrene foam ban ordinance” in all Puerto Princesa establishments on April 16 next year.
This was stated by City Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates during Monday’s regular flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall.
Vice Mayor Socrates also said that the whole of Puerto Princesa is still under the transition period towards the full implementation of the ordinance.
“Para po sa hindi nakaaalam, tayo po ay may ordinance on regulating the use of single-use plastics and styrofoam. Lumalakad na ngayon ang transition period and pagdating ng April 16 or 17 next year ay magpe-penalize na tayo, said Socrates.
In an earlier interview with Councilor Nesario Awat, one of the proponents of the ordinance, he said the ban on the use of plastic cups, drinking straws, cutleries, coffee stirrers, styrofoam, and bags will help in the preservation of the environment by reducing plastic wastes.
He said establishments caught violating the ordinance will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second violation; and P5,000 for the succeeding offenses with the cancellation of their mayor’s and business permits.
City Council approved this ordinance no. 993 to regulate and control the utilization of single-use plastics and polystyrene foam in “all establishments” in Puerto Princesa City.
Earlier also, Awat said this ordinance was crafted through consolidated efforts of the proposed measures of four different councilors namely himself, Socrates when she was still a city councilor, and councilors Jimmy Carbonell and Roy Gregorio Ventura.
The approval of the ban on third and final reading February this year was made after more than three years of deliberation at the City Council and several public consultations.
A “transition period” or the one-year allowance from the date the ordinance was approved, is given to the establishments so they will have ample time to adjust to this new law in the city.
