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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every year, four to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide, with billions of bags 
ending up as litter. 430,000 gallons of oil are needed to produce 100 million non-biodegradable 
plastic bags. Non-biodegradable plastic bags take from 500 to 1,000 years to disintegrate. 
Plastic bags contaminate soil and waterways and enter into the food web when animals 
accidentally ingest them. Plastic marine debris has been documented to harm at least 267 species, 
and is especially lethal to sea turtles. 
Plastic bags have only been around for 50 years. In the United States, department stores 
started using plastic bags only in the late 1970s and grocery chains in the early 1980s. The 
elimination of these plastic bags will do much to save and protect the environment. 
In enacting this bill, it is the intent of Congress to encourage the use of reusable bags by 
consumers and retailers and to reduce the consumption of single-use bags. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING RETAIL, STORES THAT PROVIDE PLASTIC BAGS TO CONSUMERS TO 
IMPLEMENT A PLASTIC BAG COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the PhilQpiries in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Plastic Bag Recycling Act of 
2007.’’ 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. - 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. 
The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable 
development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with 
environmental problems. 
The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is 
primarily area-based. 
Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all 
and should, therefore, be the concern of all. 
SECTION 3. Definition ofTerms. -As used in this Act, the term: 
(A) ‘Consumer” means any person who makes a purchase at retail for any purpose other 
than resale. 
(€3) “Manufacturer” means the producer of a plastic carry-out bag sold to a store. 
(C) “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. 
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(D) “Plastic carry-out bag” means any plastic, latex, or polypropylene carry-out bag 
provided by a store to a consumer at the point of sale. 
(E) “Providing plastic bags to consumers” means the act of a retail store of giving to a 
consumer a plastic bag to store or transport goods purchased at retail. 
(F) “Purchase at retail” means the acquisition of the ownership to or title to tangible 
personal property through a sale at retail. 
(G) “Reusable bag” means either of the following: 
(1) A bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has handles; or 
(2) A durable plastic bag with handles that is specifically designed and 
manufactured for multiple reuse. 
(H) “Store” means a retail establishment that has gross sales of over One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (Pl00,000.00) each month, and that provides plastic carry-out bags 
to its consumers as a result of the sale of a product. 
SECTION 4. In-Store Recycling Program. - 
(A) Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the operator of a store that 
provides plastic carry-out bags to consumers as part of a purchase at retail shall establish an in- 
store recycling program pursuant to this Act that provides an opportunity for consumers of the 
store to return to the store the plastic carry-out bags. 
(B) A retail establishment that does not meet the definition of a store in this Act and that 
provides plastic carry-out bags to consumers at the point of sale may also adopt an in-store 
recycling program as specified in this Act. 
(C) An in-store recycling program provided by the operator of a store shall include all of 
the following: 
(1) A plastic carry-out bag provided by the store shall have printed or displayed 
on the bag, in a manner visible to a consumer, the words “PLEASE RETURN TO A 
PARTICIPATING STORE FOR RECYCLING.” 
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(2) A plastic carry-out bag collection bin shall be placed at each store and shall be 
visible, easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked that the collection bin is 
available for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic carry-out bags. 
(3) All plastic bags collected by the store shall be collected, transported, and 
recycled. 
(4) The store shall maintain records describing the collection, transport, and 
recycling of plastic bags collected for a minimum of three years and shall make the 
records available to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or to the local 
government concerned, upon request, to demonstrate compliance with this Act. 
(5) The operator of the store shall make reusable bags available to consumers 
within the store, which may be purchased and used in lieu of using a plastic carry-out bag 
or paper bag. 
This subsection is not applicable to a retail establishment specified 
pursuant to Section 4(B). 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - 
(A) A civil liability in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlO0,OOO.OO) for the 
first violation of this Act, Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO.OO) for the second violation, 
and Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,OOO.OO) for the third and subsequent violations shall 
be imposed upon stores violating this Act. 
(B) Any civil penalties collected pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section shall be paid to 
the local government of the local governmelit unit where the store is located. The penalties 
collected pursuant to this section shall go to an Environment Protection Fund to be used by the 
local government to enforce this Act. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The national government shall appropriate such amounts 
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
/jab 
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