House OKs bill banning single-use plastics

July 29, 2021

MANILA, PHILIPPINES The law proposes to phase out single-use plastics in the Philippines within a year, according to the House of Representatives, which passed it on final reading on Wednesday, July 28.

A total of 190 legislators voted in favor of the proposed Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation Act. There was no opposition.

The Senate companion bill, introduced by Senator Manny Pacquiao, is still in committee. Ban not immediate The bill intends to prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, distribution, supply, and use of single-use plastic within a year of its passage. Drinking straws, stirrers, plastic sticks, confetti, and packaging are examples of these. Meanwhile, four years are given for cutlery, film wrap, sachets and pouches, beverage containers, and thicker plastics for packaging. The bill seeks to fine violators between P50,000 and P500,000 for small businesses, and P250,000 to P1 million for bigger businesses. Who will enforce it? All of the executive departments will implement the law but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will formulate a "phase-out plan" to make sure that the country is on track with the law's goals. Businesses, meanwhile, are mandated to promote reusable products and to charge customers who will ask for plastic bags. Why does this matter? The Philippines is one of the main sources of plastic waste in the world. Global movement #BreakFreeFromPlastic reported that this was mostly from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. Greenpeace Philippines lauded the House for the bill's passage, hoping the Senate will do the same. "This is a timely response to the urgency to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic items and curb the impacts and injustices stemming from plastic’s entire lifecycle," said Greenpeace campaigner Marian Ledesma in a statement on Thursday. https://www.rappler.com/nation/house-approves-bill-banning-single-use-plastics