Quezon City Magbabayad ka ng dalawang peso for not bringing plastic bag start sep 1, 2012

Merchandising establishments in Quezon City will start collecting two pesos every time their customers fail to bring their own bag this September 1, the day the ordinance on the city's "Plastic Recovery System Fee" takes effect.

Introduced by Councilor Dorothy Delarmente, the fee is earmarked for a "green fund" that will be used by businesses to fund environmental initiatives. Violators of the ordinance would pay a fine not exceeding P1000 for the first offense, and P3,000 for the second offense. The third offense would warrant a fine not exceeding P5000, and the cancellation of business permit.

"In fairness to the Quezon City Local Government Unit, they've conducted honest-to-goodness consultation," Crispian Lao, former president of Philippine Plastics Industry Association Inc. (PPIA) told GMA News Online in a phone interview Thursday. "While this will definitely hurt the plastic industry, this is better than an outright ban," Lao noted. Moreover, he said the plastic industry initially proposed a one peso-fee, but the City Council decided on the current rate.

"If you buy a kilo of rice for 35 php, mabigat ang 2 piso," said Peter Quintana, current PPIA president said they hoped to lower the price to 50 cents or one peso. "But what's good about the ordinance is the added provision. Pag nagdala ka ng plastic, kahit gutay-gutay, kahit may butas, libre na," he said.

Moreover, Quintana said the ordinance could serve as prototype for national legislation. "Plastic recovery has been successfully implemented outside the Philippines. We believe it can be done here," he noted.

Source : EverythinginBudget