Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Allan Gel Cordova yesterday ruled out any immediate amendment to the anti-plastic bags ordinance amid claims by big businessmen that the measure is vague on the use of biodegradable materials.

He told the DAILY STAR that the Sangguniang Panlungsod will give the executive department the opportunity to fully implement the law and its implementing rules and regulations.

It has been noted that some business establishments complied with the ordinance in the few days after it was implemented on August 28, but later on reverted to using plastic bags, and insisted that those were biodegradables.

In a dialog last week with representatives from the Mayor’s Office and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NOCCI president Ed Du said the ordinance “is very strict and very difficult to follow, particularly on the use of biodegradable plastic bags”.

He said this is because the bag’s biodegradability must be certified, either by the Department of Science and Technology or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and a reputable international accreditation authority.

City Administrator William Ablong said some businesses submitted verification letters, showing that the plastic bags they are using contained additives that make them biodegradables, but these were not from DOST and plastic manufacturers.

Cordova urged Negrenses to continue supporting the ordinance despite the concerns raised by the business sector, as it is good for the environment and the public.

Under the ordinance, vendors selling wet goods and selected dry items, like cereals, are prohibited from providing another plastic packaging in addition to the primary plastic wrapper.

Violators will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 or six-month imprisonment or both on the discretion of the court, plus cancellation of the business permit for one year, for the third and successive offenses.*RA

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