LIKE in Mandaue City, the use of plastics may soon be banned in Cebu City if a proposed ordinance is approved.
During last week’s regular session, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. filed a draft ordinance, banning the use of plastics and promoting the use of eco bags and other environment-friendly practices.
“It is most alarming and ultimately disastrous for our community and people. By eliminating, if not, minimizing the production and use of general residual waste, this can result to reduction or avoidance of environmental and health problems,” he said.
The practice, which was first implemented in Mandaue last July, aims to provide an alternative to the present practices in the city.
This would mean that constituents are encouraged to use either eco, net or paper bags, bayongs, baskets or any other similar reusable container when shopping.
Alcover pointed out the use and irresponsible dumping of plastic as factors to the clogging of waterways and drainage and the alarming increase in dengue cases.
The City Council recently declared a state of calamity following the increase in dengue death rate for this year alone.
Among the synthetic materials prohibited from ending as residual wastes are tarpaulins and water bottles.
Alcover, however, clarified that the banned materials do not include those that can still be reused and recycled.
He also wants to ban the selling, distribution, production and disposal of all plastic-made materials in the city.
This, however, will not cover furniture, wares and other similar materials made of plastic.
If approved, the Cebu City Environmental and Natural Resources Office will be tasked to formulate the measures and implement the rules.
The councilor also wants all educational institutions to conduct cleanup drives in coastal areas, creeks, streets and drainage canals for restoration purposes.
If one is caught red handed, he will be fined P500 for the first offense.
Second time offenders will be fined P1,000, third time violators will be fined P1,500 or jailed for five days, or both at the court’s discretion.
Business establishments caught violating, will be fined P1,500 and P2,000 for the first and second offense. Third time offenders will be fined P5,000 and their City-issued business permit will be cancelled.
The City Council referred for review Alcover’s ordinance to the committee on laws.
