Loren seeks passage of Senate bill phasing out use of plastic bags

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda is pushing for the passage of the Senate’s counterpart bill phasing out the use of plastic bags after the House of Representatives had approved its version of the measure.

At least two bills filed by Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are pending in the Senate calling for a phase-out of the use of plastic bags.

Legarda’s bill seeks to stop the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in supermarkets, department stores, groceries, convenience stores, food chains, restaurants, sari-sari stores and other commercial establishments.

“Plastic bags end up as litter as it makes its way to landfills, drainages and bodies of water like Pasig River and Manila Bay, and take decades to decompose, damaging marine life. This issue of pollution is further aggravated by natural hazards, which have become unpredictable due to climate change,” she said.

Legarda noted that plastic bags severely worsened flooding in Metro Manila when tropical storm “Ondoy” struck in 2009.

Under the bill, violators face a fine of P10,000 for the first offense; P50,000 for the second offense; and P200,000 and one year suspension of business permit for the third offense.

“As the problems of pollution, environmental degradation and severe weather shifts escalate, all sectors of society must act with dispatch. Individuals must make conscious efforts to change our daily routine and practices to produce a positive impact on the environment,” Legarda stressed.

Marcos, for his part, said that shoppers should be given incentives, such as discounts, to encourage them to bring their own reusable bags when they shop.

“Maybe this is something we could incorporate into the actual law. In my experience, when I see this kind of scheme being implemented in grocery stores or supermarkets abroad, it seems to be effective. The other option available to us is to regulate the use of plastic bags,” he said.

Marcos filed Senate Bill No. 2749 seeking to regulate the use of plastic bags to minimize pollution and protect the quality of water.

The bill advocates the use of reusable, biodegradable bags made of washable material that does not contain lead or any heavy metal in toxic amount and designed and manufactured for at least 100 uses, which shall be made available for customers by the merchants.

“I think most consumers would like to do something good for the environment. One of the schemes that I have seen abroad is that if you ask for a plastic bag, you will pay for it. But if you bring your own bag, you will get a discount,” Marcos said.

“Environmental concerns did not become a political issue until it became an economic one. In that way, we are bringing the issue into the economic sphere,” he added.