CEBU, Philippines — Starting today, June 1, and every day thereafter, the Dumaguete City government's Economic Enterprise Office is implementing the 'No Plastic Everyday' policy at the city public market.
The EEO announced that it is urging all buyers and sellers at the public market to avoid using plastic bags in their purchases, in line with the city government's campaign to regulate the use of plastics not only in government establishments but also in private establishments and institutions.
"This is part of our effort to manage our wastes by reducing the volume, which would be a great relief to the city government and the people. Let us reuse and recycle alternative bags as packaging containers," the agency told The Freeman.
The city government encourages the public to cooperate by using instead recycled bags, baloyot or bayong, net bags, cacha or sako bags.
This is line with City Ordinance No. 231 series of section 13, which also penalizes a violator with a fine of P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second, and P5,000 for the third, and/or imprisonment of at least six months, upon discretion of the court, with cancellation of business license or permit to operate for a period of one year.