Mandaue City Postpones Full Implementation of Plastics Ban until July 25

MANDAUE CITY, July 20 (PNA) — The Mandaue City government has postponed until July 25 the full implementation of the plastics ban in the city, an official said.

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, chief of staff of Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, said the city will focus on informing establishment owners and the public about the plastics ban and the alternative food packaging allowed by law.

Bathan said some establishments and vendors are still not aware of the Plastic Bag Prohibition Ordinance passed in 2010, which carries a penalty of Php500 for violators.

“The full implementation will definitely begin next week, meaning we will start to deploy our team already to monitor establishments that do not comply with the ordinance,” she said.

Bathan said the city has received appeals and requests from business owners for exemption or to be given more time to comply.

“But that’s not the reason we are putting off the penalties. We just need to continue with the information dissemination. By next week, no one is excused from complying. The plastic ban will be applied to all establishments, whether big or small,” she said.

Bathan warned that establishments or retailers who do not comply will be issued a notice of non-compliance starting on Monday.

“There will be no fines yet next week, but that will be the first and final warning on their part. On their second offense, we will already enforce the penalty clause of the ordinance without prejudice to the necessary consequence for the violation of other ordinances, which could even include revocation of the business permit and the closure of the establishment,” she said.

Quisumbing ordered the strict and full implementation of the ordinance after the flooding last July 1, which left hundreds stranded on the road.

The city’s waterways are clogged mostly by plastic products, causing rivers and creeks to overflow, he said. (PNA) LDV/EB/EBP