Status Report - Joint Committee Ordinance Plastic
Status Report - Joint Committee Ordinance Plastic
Status Report - Joint Committee Ordinance Plastic
Province of Iloilo
MUNICIPALITY OF DUMANGAS
OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN
TeleFax No. (033) 361-2478
Email Address: [email protected]
Article II, Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution provides that the state shall protect
and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature.
Section 3 (i) of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991 provides that “the Local Government Unit shall share with the national government the
responsibility in the management and maintenance of ecological balance within their territorial
jurisdiction”.
Section 447 (VI) of R.A. 7160 also empowers the Sangguniang Bayan to protect the
environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment
including such activities which results pollution acceleration or eutrophication of rivers and
lakes or any acts that will result into ecological imbalance.
Plastic bags are rampantly used as packaging materials in the Municipality of Dumangas
and elsewhere. Plastic bags being non-biodegradable materials clog our canals, rivers and other
waterways.
Despite serious efforts of the municipality to segregate compostable, recyclable and
reusable waste materials, plastic and other similar materials remain in the waste stream and
eventually become residuals.
The Municipality of Dumangas, in its desire to reduce if not totally eliminate the use of
plastic film bags as packaging materials, through an ordinance sponsored by Hon. Rose Marie D.
Doromal and co – sponsored by Hon. George A. Acepcion and Hon. Randy Suspeñe, encourages
utilization of alternative packaging materials that are sustainable and bio – degradable such as
woven bags (bayong), cloth bags (katsa), paper bags and other similar materials and consumers
shall be encouraged to bring their own bags/containers made of recyclable materials to carry,
transport or package goods purchased.
The proposed ordinance have already been discussed suggestions made but finalization
and passage of the above shall be held in abeyance after a consultative meeting with owners of
business establishments in the municipality, market vendors and stallholders and a public
hearing has been scheduled.