The City Government has started Friday, April 17, the implementation of City Ordinance No. 993 or the measure regulating “single-use plastic and polystyrene foam” in all Puerto Princesa establishments.
City Councilor Nesario Awat, one of the four proponents of the measure told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Friday that the implementation of this measure resumes amidst the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“As normally being done, once the ordinance is passed, then the authorities should have to implement it. In the implementation of the law there is no holiday, there is no COVID- [19], no pandemic. So if ever there will be a violation, then it’s up for the authorities to implement the ordinance,” said Awat.
“Pero as a far as this representation is concern, nasa nagpapa-tupad [o] nasa sa kapulisan na ‘yan. Nasa nagpapatupad na ‘yan kung how they will implement it whether it is ‘strictly being implemented or liberal’ sila in the implementation considering the COVID-19,” he added.
Councilor Awat said included in this regulation are products made of plastic such as in cutleries, drinking straws, disposable cups, coffee stirrers, bags, and utensils.
The ordinance was approved on its third and final reading in February 2019 after three years of deliberation and series of public consultations.
The measure was crafted through consolidated efforts of its four proponents namely Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates when she was still a councilor, and City Councilors Nesario Awat, Roy Ventura, and Jimmy Carbonell.
This ordinance, from the date it was approved, was allotted with one-year “transition period” before it was finally implemented.
This one-year “grace period” was intended for the establishments to take their inventory of the items subject for regulation and to slowly make adjustments toward the impending change.
Awat said any establishment caught violating the ordinance will be imposed with a monetary penalty of P1,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second; and P5,000 for the third and succeeding violations along with cancellation of business permits.
“Well of course ang masasabi lang natin considering that we have the ordinance, then they have as much as possible to comply the provisions provided for under the ordinance. But as far as its enforcement, we leave it to the authorities considering with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Awat.
He also added that the enforcement of this “single-use plastic and polystyrene foam regulation” measure could also be through coordinated efforts of the Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO).