PIA Press Release
Monday, January 02, 2012 'No plastic Day' now twice week in Roxas Cityby Alex A. Lumaque ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Jan. 2 (PIA) -- Every Monday and Wednesday will be no-plastic days here effective Jan. 1, 2011. This was confirmed by Roxas City councilor lawyer Powell Del Rosario who authored City Ordinance No. 030-2011. which prohibits business establishments or individuals from selling or providing plastic bags as packing materials to consumers. The ordinance was implemented every Wednesdays since it took effect last Aug. 5, 2011. Streamers on the additional day of observance of the ordinance were displayed on various strategic places to remind the public on the amendments of the environment-friendly initiative. Last year, a series of surprise inspections was conducted by the Roxas City Task Force on Environmental Protection (RCTFEP) to check compliance of the various commercial establishments with an ordinance banning the use of plasic every Wednesday in the city. The ordinance aims to reduce, if not totally eliminate, the use of plastic bags and polystyrene foams as packing materials in stores. It encourages business establishments and individuals to use alternative packing materials such as woven bags or bayong, cloth or paper bags, and other similar materials. The move of the city government also promotes its Bring Your Own Bag campaign. Based on the ordinance, individual violators will be meted with P500 and P1,000 for first and second offenses, respectively, while a third violation will penalize him/her with P2,000 and or imprisonment of not more than six months upon the discretion of the court. The same penalties apply to business establishments except that the penalty on third offense may include the cancellation of license to operate for a year. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz) | 
