FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OFTHE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1368 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Philippine urban areas are dotted with malls and supermarkets, grocery stores 
and other retail outlets. Purchases in these stores are concluded with customers 
walking out of the mall or store carrying several plastic bags. Some of these plastic 
bags are reused; others are easily dumped either properly or improperly. In all 
instances, plastic bags, because they are very light, are easily moved from place 
to place, clogging drainages in streets, polluting waterways and even endangering 
fish and ecosystems. In addition, the production of these bags requires considerable 
amounts of crude oil and natural gas. 
It is clear therefore that the use of plastic bags must be reduced. This 
may be achieved by requiring retailers to establish a recycling mechanism for plastic 
bags and reuse recycled plastic bags in future purchases. 
In view of the foregOing, the passage of this bill is being earnestly sought. 
~ 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
I 
1368 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
, i 
PROVIDING FOR A PROACTIVE APPROACH IN RECYCLING USED PLASTIC 
BAGS BY STORES AND OTHER RET AIL OUTLETS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines III Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Title. This law shall be known as the "Stores Proactive in Plastic Bag 
Recycling Act". 
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this bill, the following terms shall have the 
meanings indicated: 
a. OPERATOR - A person which may include, but is not limited to, the owner of the 
store, managing or responsible for the daily operation of a store. 
b. STORE - A retail establishment that provides plastic reusable bags to its customers 
as a result of the sale of a consumer good and belongs to a chain of five or more 
retail establishments that are engaged in the same general field of business and are 
under one common ownership or management or pursuant to a franchise agreement 
with the same franchisor. 
c. REUSABLE PLASTIC BAG - A plastic bag with handles specifically designed 
and manufactured by a store as container for purchases in its store. 
Section 3. Store Recycling Program. The operator of a store shall establish a recycling 
program located at the store pursuant to the provisions of this bill. Such program shall 
provide an opportunity for members of the public to return to the store clean plastic bags 
from that originated from the store or from any store of a chain of five or more retail 
establishments, 
Section 4. Program Requirements. The recycling program provided by the 
operator of a store shall require: 
A. A plastic bag collection bin to be placed at or near the entrance to each store, and such 
bin shall be highly visible and indicate that the bin is intended for the reusing of plastic bags 
and not for the discarding of garbage. Such collection bin shall be easily accessible to the 
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costumer; and such collection bin shall be clearly marked that the collection bin is available 
for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic bags only. 
B. That all plastic bags collected by the store are to be collected, handled and recycled in a 
manner consistent with all applicable laws or any pertinent rule or regulation. 
C. That the operator of the store shall direct store personnel to reuse plastic bags collected 
through the program as container for purchases of customers instead of using new plastic 
bags until the collected bags in a batch of collection were used. 
Section 5. Assistance for Stores. Appropriate national and local government agencies shall 
assist the stores to comply with the provisions of this Act. 
Section 6. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Trade and Industry and the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall promulgate any rules and 
regulations as they deem necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act. 
Section 7. Separability Clause. If any part of this Act should hereafter be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, such other parts not affected thereby shall continue in full force 
and effect. 
Section 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2