Bill restricting plastic bags approved

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill restricting the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in supermarkets, department stores, and other commercial establishments.

Authored by Reps. Oscar Malapitan (NP, Caloocan City) and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP party-list), House Bill (HB) No. 4840 drew bipartisan support when it was presented for third and final reading recently.

Malapitan and Mendoza said the bill imposes a three-year ultimatum for the use of plastic bags blamed for floods and other environmental dangers in the country.

Mendoza said biodegradable plastic bags are those that decompose by 60 percent within two years of use without leaving significant harmful residues while non-biodegradable plastic bags are the widely used material that hardly decompose even after decades and have been identified as the primary reason for flooding due to clogged drains.

He said about 50 percent of floating waste on water is plastic that ends up clogging drain pipes or smothering turtles and killing birds and fish that mistake it as food. (Ben R. Rosario)