FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
L 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to Article 11, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution: 
"The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. " 
According to data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 
2001 on US plastic bag, sack, and wrap consumption, somewhere between 500 billion and a 
trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions end up in the litter 
stream outside of landfills. 
Considering their somewhat placid appearance, the impact of plastic bags on the 
environment can be devastating. Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine 
animal deaths every year when animals mistakenly ingest them as food. 
This bill aims to eliminate the use of plastic bags using a two-pronged approach: first, by 
gradually phasing out the use of plastic bags and, second, by introducing viable alternatives. 


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. I . .  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
I .: 
'~ .I , 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
I 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE USE OF PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assern bled: 
SECTION 1. Dejkition. As used in this act: 
A. "Carryout bag" means a bag provided by a store at the point of sale for customers to carry 
their goods out of the store. 
B. "Compostable plastic bag" means a plastic carryout bag that meets the current Department 
of trade and Industry's standard for compostable plastic, as that standard may be amended 
from time to time. 
C. "Department" means the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. 
D. "Operator" means a person in control of, or having daily responsibility for, the daily 
operation of a store, which may include, but is not limited to, the owner of the store. 
E. "Plastic carryout bag" means a plastic carryout bag provided by a store to a customer at the 
point of sale. 
F. "Recyclable paper bag" means a paper bag that meets all the following requirements: (1) 
the bag contains no old growth fiber; (2) the bag is 100% recyclable overall and contains a 
minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content; and (3) the bag displays the words 
"reusable" and "recyclable". 
G. "Reusable bag" means: (1) a bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has 
handles; or (2) a durable plastic bag with handles that is at least 2.25 mm thick and is 
specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuses. 
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H. "Store" means a drug store, supermarket or retail establishment that has over 1,000 square 
feet of retail space and that provides plastic carryout bags to its customers as a result of the 
sale of a product. 
SECTION 2. Gradual Reduction. Upon effectivity of this Act, evexy operator of a store 
shall restrict the use of non-compostable plastic bags by 50% of the current volume. Two years 
after the effectivity of this Act, all non-compostable plastic bags shall be banned from use. 
SECTION 3. Report. Every operator of a store shall submit a report documenting the 
reduction in usage of non-compostable plastic bags to the Department upon effectivity of this 
Act and every quarter of the year thereafter. 
SECTION 4. Alternative Bags. . Upon effectivity of the total ban on non-compostable 
plastic bags, every operator of a store shall provide as carryout bags to customers a recyclable 
paper bag, a compostable bag, or a reusable bag. 
SECTION 5. Penalty. The operator of any store which violates the provisions of this Act 
shall be fined Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P25,OOO) for the first offense, Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) for the second offense, and One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.O0) and 
closure of the store €or the third and final offense. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the OfJicial Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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