The city government-oriented the stall occupants and tenants of SM Puerto Princesa on Thursday and told them to shift to eco-friendly packaging in preparation to the implementation and enforcement of City Ordinance 993 also known as Single-Use Plastic Regulation Ordinance.
Senior Environmental Management Specialist Mary Ann Joylle M. Madriñan explained that starting April 2020, single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam will be banned. Single use plastic includes plastic straws, plastic utensils, plastic cups, and plastic coffee stirrers.
She presented to the stall occupants some of the eco-friendly primary and secondary packaging, containers, etc. which is in compliance to the City Ordinance No. 993. These include packaging and containers made of papers, indigenous materials, leaves, and others.
Under the City Ordinance No. 993, exemptions are only applied to vendors of food in carenderia and restaurants, and Styrofoam for fish vendors.
She advised the managers and operators of business establishments within SM to start shifting to eco-friendly since their office will start this October 2019, the inventory to all business establishments of all remaining single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam.
Madriñan warned against using the so-called biodegradable plastic since this does not actually degrade but only disintegrate and become micro-plastic. These micro-plastic if improperly disposed to the sea and oceans are eaten by fish and other marine products because it is mistaken as plankton.
“Hindi sya nabubulok kundi nagdidis-integrate lang, nagiging mga microplastic. Mas delikado yun kung hindi natin na-dispose ng maayos, Nakakain sya ng mga isda, at ang isda ay kinakain din naman natin,” she warned.