BAGUIO City Councilor Michael Lawana and current president of the Association of Barangay Councils has proposed the deputation of village officials to help in the implementation of the anti-plastic law.
In a dialog during Monday's regular session, heads of the City General Services Office (GSO) and City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) faced the council on the status of implementing the environment law.
Lawana said the deputation of village officials can help push implementation of the law in order to continue the present frenzy to comply with the new ordinance.
The lawmaker said when the task force for the ordinance is made, the help of the 129 villages will be needed in helping the city.
"Sayang ang implementation, kung wala pa ang task force that is why we are offering to help," he said.
Cepmo chief Cordelia Lacsamana and GSO officer-in-charge Eugene Buyucan were present to give input and updates on the ordinance saying there is no task force yet to be established and Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to be polished.
The ordinance covers all business activities and establishments in the city including city government schools and offices prohibiting the use of plastic bag or polystyrene foam container for goods or items purchased or serving food or drink, take out or dine in to customers in polystyrene containers or in plastic bags.
Establishments are mandated to provide or make available to customers for free or for a cost, paper bags or reusable bags or containers made of paper or materials which are biodegradable, for the purpose of carrying out goods or other items from the point of sale.
At the city market, buyers are urged to bring their own containers to pack their purchases of meat and fish as well as their personal bags to carry goods.
The penalties are reprimand or immediate closure for establishments for first offense; P1,000 fine for second offense; P3,000 fine and eight hours community service for third offense and P5,000 fine and suspension of business permit for six months for fourth offense.
In the past, Lawana has also proposed to deputize barangay officials manning traffic in their villages is being readied as well as to equip them with tickets to be issued to erring vehicle owners to help in the anti-obstruction law.
All monies collected will still go straight to the City Treasurers' Office when the vehicle owners pay the necessary fines, taking away premonitions of corruption and abuse.
