Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the Plastic Bags Ban kick off event on Sunday morning in a bid to promote plastic waste reduction in the city.
The mayor distributed bayongs and eco bags to market goers in Galas, Munoz, Suki, A. Bonifacio, Frisco, and Kamuning market in Quezon City on Sunday, February 28.
The kick off event was in relation with the re-implementation of the city’s Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance starting on Monday, March 1.
Belmonte was joined by Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department head, Andrea Villaroman, and personnel from the Market Development and Administration Department of the city to encourage sustainable practice and promote the plastic waste reduction campaign.
The distribution of plastic bags as carry-out bags in establishments will be prohibited throughout the city.
"We suspended the implementation of the ordinance during the pandemic para hindi po makadagdag sa uncertainty, but now we can manage the pandemic better so itinuloy na natin. Alam naman natin na plastics are one of the greatest polluters of our oceans and bodies of water, clogs our waste streams and pose health risks (We suspended the implementation of the ordinance during the pandemic to avoid creating additional uncertainty, but now we can manage the pandemic better so we continued it. We know that plastics are one of the greatest polluters of our oceans and bodies of water, clogs our waste streams, and pose health risks)," the mayor said.
The event is also a part of the city’s celebration of Women’s Month this March which highlights the role of women in environmental protection.
Under the Kababaihan Para sa Kalikasan movement with the theme “Babae: Tayo ang Pagbabago,” women are encouraged to be more pro-active and be the catalysts for change given their important role in our households and communities.
The establishments and other businesses violating the ban will be meted with a fine of 1,000 pesos for the first offense, 3,000 pesos fine and revocation of environmental clearance for the second offense, and 5,000 pesos fine for the third offense and revocation of business permit.