Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Binalonan on September 17 during their regular session called for the strict implementation of an existing municipal ordinance on the prohibition of the use of plastic bags and styrofoam in the town’s public market and all commercial establishments within Binalonan and provide penalties for the violators.

Presiding Officer, Vice Mayor Melicio Patague II said, ”The law has already been approved since 2015. We should strictly implement the ordinance whoever gets hurt. No one is above the law.“

Addressing the SB members, Vice Mayor Patague added, ”We are here to promote the interest of the town, not self-interest. Let us impose the law. Let us stand firm.”

Five stall owners who violated the ordinance were summoned by the SB during its session and would be accorded with any of the following penalties-first offense, fine of 1 thousand pesos, second offense, 1,500 pesos and third offense, 2,500 pesos fine and/or imprisonment of not more than 6 months upon the discretion of the court and in the case of business establishment, cancellation of license to operate for a period of one year.

Municipal ordinance No. 2015-02, passed on April 27, 2015 entitled “Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Ordinance,” states that no person shall use polystyrene plastics and other similar materials as containers for food and other food products. It also states that no business establishment shall use plastic bags as packaging material on dry goods. Business establishments selling wet goods may use plastic bags as primary packaging material.

The ordinance prohibits establishments and/or individuals from selling and providing plastic bags to consumers as secondary packaging materials on wet goods, and selling and providing plastic bags to consumers as packaging materials on dry goods.

The law also prohibits selling and providing polysterene plastics such as styrofoam/styrophor, disposable spoons and forks, cups and plates as containers and illegal disposal of plastic wastes.