CITY GOVERNMENT BANS PLASTIC BUNTINGS

Effective April 2009, City Ordinance No. 13 (Series of 2009) entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting the installation and display of buntings and pennants made with plastic & non-biodegradable materials along the streets, roads and public places within the city of Olongapo” shall be implemented.

Ordinance No. 13 is an essential part of the program of the city government in maintaining Olongapo City’s cleanliness and orderliness, sustain the development of the tourism industry and protect the health of the community.

The City Council last March 09, 2009 passed the said ordinance in line with the implementation of the first solid waste management program of the city.

The ban of plastic straw strings or plastic buntings and other non-biodegradable materials will lessen the volume of pollutants and trash present in the environment.

The City Council noted that “these materials will remain in the environment for hundreds of years, thereby causing long-term pollution and often cause the blocking of drainage and sewer pipes, resulting to flooding. Also plastic materials discarded to the ecosystem cause death and injuries to animals ingesting it”.

The lead agencies for the implementation of this project are the Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO), the 17 Barangays of the city and the Office of Traffic Management and Public Safety (OTMPS). Violators of the provisions shall be given citations and failure or negligence to settle within ten (10) days shall be further penalized.

Violators of the provisions shall be fined as follows:

First Offense: A fine of Five Hundred Pesos(P500.00)

Second Offense: A fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00)

Third Offense: A fine of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,500.00), or imprisonment of not more than three (3) months or both, at the discretion of the court and in the case of business entities, cancellation of their licenses or permit for one (1) year.
Pao/nmm