CENRO to deploy teams as plastic ban starts

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama

Wednesday 27th of June 2012

DAVAO CITY, June 27 -- The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will deploy four teams across the city to catch violators of the "plastic ban" that will be fully implemented tomorrow, June 28.

In 2009, the city passed an ordinance that bans the use of non-biodegradable plastics and polystyrene containers that are utilized as food and beverage take-out containers. The implementing rules and regulations of the ban was set out in 2010 with a two-year grace period that ends on today, June 27.

In an interview at Club 888 media forum in Marco Polo Davao held today, CENRO chief Atty. Joseph Felizarta said that teams will be deployed to malls, manufacturers of plastics, vendors, and city’s markets. The CENRO chief also said he does expect resistance from some establishments particularly in the markets.

These teams will issue citation tickets to those found violating the plastic ban. First-time violators will be meted out a penalty of P300. The citation tickets will contain the name of the violator, the violations, and the specific location.

“We are ready, in fact dugay na mi ready (We have long been ready )” Felizarta said. His office estimates that about 31,000 to 34,000 business establishments expected to comply with the ordinance. Among these establishments are more than 10 plastic manufacturers in the city.

He said that Davao City is the first local government to have a city ordinance that bans the use of non-biodegradable plastics as food and beverage containers. Felizarta said that though some local governments have issued bans on plastics, they are still just executive orders. (PIA/RG Alama)