Bautista bans plastic in Quezon City hall, hospitals

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed into law a measure prohibiting the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers within the city hall complex, Novaliches District Center, Quezon City General Hospital and Novaliches District Hospital.

Ordinance 2127, authored by Councilors Gian Carlo Sotto and Jesus Manuel Suntay, prohibits the use of these items by city employees and visitors.

They said the city hall generates a lot of plastic and polystyrene waste during its programs, meetings and other activities, and this waste generation should be minimized by encouraging employees and visitors to refrain from using these products.

Concessionaires and ambulant vendors who sell wet goods within city government offices should use plastic not thinner than 15 microns to ensure the safety of the consuming public.

Erring vendors shall be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,000 for the third offense, as well as get their permits cancelled.

Employees will be given a warning from the personnel office for the first offense, a warning from the department and the employee’s head of office or department for the second offense, and a reprimand plus a P2,000 fine for the third offense.

Visitors will get a warning for the first offense, a P500 fine for the second offense and a P1,000 fine for the third offense.