MCCI to consult members re plastic ban ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) will be conducting a series of consultations among its members regarding the city ordinance banning the use of plastic bags to help mitigate the city’s flooding problem.

"We understand the need for the city government to implement an existing ordinance as a mitigating measure in solving the flooding problem," said MCCI president Glenn Soco in an interview with The Freeman.

According to Soco, the chamber's board of directors visited the office of Mandaue City mayor Luigi Quisumbing to discuss the matter.

“In the meantime, we will conduct more consultations with the business sector in order to cope up with the current situation and possibly come up with some recommendations and possibly more effective solutions to the problem," Soco said.                                      

Although this is quite difficult shift to face, Soco said businesses should understand that they have to be cooperative and participative with the city government and other stakeholders  in dealing with the flooding problem.

Last week, Quisumbing announced that the City is determined to enforce a ban on the use of plastic bags in the city.

Mandaue will only be implementing an existing ordinance passed by the City Council, and the new administration will strongly  enforce the ordinance this time.

Section 1 of the ordinance stated the total ban of the use of plastic bags in Mandaue City. The said ordinance was approved during the administration of then mayor Jonas Cortes in 2010.

Under City Ordinance 12-2010-562 also known as Plastic Bag Prohibition Ordinance of 2010, the use and distribution of disposable plastic bags and polystyrene containers such as styrofoam in any establishment in the city, including carenderias and sari-sari stores, is prohibited.

It was stipulated in the ordinance that only the use of "paper bags, cloth, recyclable paper and/or reusable checkout bags" is allowed.

Violators will be fined P500 or face five days imprisonment or both.

Earlier, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) announced its support to the pending bill on Environment Levy at the House of Representative. The Bill suggested that the use of plastic bags be discouraged, instead promote the use of green or environmentally friendly bags.

Former PRA national former president Bernie Liu said that the organization will make a strong stance to support this bill.

Meanwhile, the PRA-Cebu had pioneered the implementation of “Unified Green Bag” program of the member retailers in Cebu to introduce a unified green bag product to be used by retailers for product packaging, and shopping bags.

In 2009, PRA-Cebu launched the “Every Bag Counts” campaign to drum up awareness in using only recyclable shopping bags. (FREEMAN)