“With our dependence on agriculture, plastic pollution also poses a grave threat to our food security. Disaster risks and hazards arising from plastic pollution may put farms at risk of flooding, resulting in wastage of agricultural products along with its threats to a balanced ecology. Microplastics leaked in our bodies of water may also put public health at risk as it gets into our food chain,” Gasataya said.
He recalled that in 2018, flooding occurred in Bacolod City despite the city-wide flood control project.
The lawmaker said upon conducting an investigation, he personally found plenty of plastic garbage clogged in the sewers and waterways of the district due to improper disposal.
Gasataya filed House Bill 8853 which provides that the prohibition of single-use plastics by all business enterprises shall be in full force and effect one year from the effectivity of the proposed Act.
Under HB 8853, he proposed that for each piece of single-use plastics already manufactured in circulation and for use in transaction, retailers shall charge the consumers a minimum levy of P5.
The amount collected by retailers shall be reflected in the official receipt. Twenty-percent of such amount shall be kept by the business enterprise to cover the cost of the single-use plastics, while 80 percent shall be remitted quarterly to the Special Fund created under the proposed Act.
A discount of P5 shall be given to consumers who bring their own containers for take-outs and purchase of food and beverages.
HB 8853 prohibits the importation of single-use plastics and provides that all used single-use plastics as allowed by the proposed Act, shall be recycled.
For VAT-registered enterprises, establishments, and stores found violating the proposed Act, the following are the penalties: first offense- a fine of P10,000; second offense- P250,000 fine and suspension of business permit for six months; third offense- P500,000 fine and suspension of its business permit for one year; and fourth offense- P1 million fine and revocation of business permit and ineligibility for application of business permit for a period of five years.
The bill calls for the creation of a Special Fund for Single-Use Plastic Regulation, which shall be used for the establishment of recycling centers and capacity-building of LGUs and local law enforcement agencies.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Climate Change Commission (CCC), and other concerned government agencies and representatives of LGU organization shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act.
