Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

: 546
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the phase-out of single-use plastic products. It mandates
the formulation of a Single-Use Plastic Products Phase-out Plan that shall contain strategies
and concrete action plans in order to carry out this objective. If enacted into law, this proposed
measure shall be an addition to existing laws that seek to protect, conserve and preserve our
environment and natural resources.

Single-use plastics are plastic products used only once before they are thrown away
or recycled. These items are things like plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and
water bottles and most food packaging. Just like any plastic product, single-use plastics are
a bane to the environment. Several studies have already shown that these are a major source of
marine litter and they present a physical danger cor marine life.

‘A.2015 study conducted by Jambeck, Jenna R., Roland Geyer, Chris Wilcox, Theodore
R. Siegler, Miriam Perryman, Anthony Andracy, Ramani Narayan, and Kara Lavender Law
entitled “Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean,” named five member-countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) among the biggest sources of plastics
pollution in the world’s oceans. These are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and
Vietnam.

There have been global efforts among governments to reduce the impact of single-
plastic products on the environment. Measures to either reduce or ban the use of these products
have been enacted by the legislative bodies of some countries.

Asa responsible member of the global community, we must do our share in preserving
and conserving our planet for future generations, most especially for Filipinos yet unborn.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

atasy.

RO: iO RUHINO B. BIAZON
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 548

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PHASE-OUT OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS
IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Single-Use Plastic Products Phase-
Out Law."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and advance the
right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology. Toward this end, it shall institute
mechanisms to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in
particular, the aquatic environment, and on human health.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Collection means the gathering of waste, including the preliminary sorting and
preliminary storage of waste for the purposes of transport to a waste treatment facility:

b. Extended producer responsibility schemes means measures that are intended to ensure
that the responsibilities of any natural or legal person who professionally develops.
manufactures, processes, treats, sells or imports single-use plastic products shall extend
beyond the production of these products. These responsibilities are mechanisms intended
to strengthen the re-use and the prevention, recycling and other recovery of waste from
these products. Such measures may include an acceptance of returned products and of
the waste that remains after those products have been used, as well as the subsequent
management of the waste and financial responsibility for such activities:

¢. Plastic means a material consisting of a polymer to which additives or other substances
may have been added, and which can function as a main structural component of final
products, with the exception of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified:

d. Single-use plastic product means a product that is made wholly or partly from plastic
and that is not conceived, designed or placed on the market to accomplish. within its life

st


span, multiple trips or rotations by being returned to the producer for refill or reused for
the same purpose for which it was conceived such as, but not limited to plastic straws,
plastic cups and lids, shrink wrap and other packaging for products;

Treatment means recovery or disposal operations, including preparation prior to
recovery or disposal; and

f. Waste means any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required
to discard.

Sec. 4. Prohibition. ~The sale and use of single-use plastic products shall be prohibited
three years afier the effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, the production, manufacture and
importation of such products shall no longer be allowed. Groceries, supermarkets, public
markets, restaurants, fast food chains, department stores, retail stores and other similar
establishments shall likewise be prohibited from using or selling single-use plastic products.

Sec 5. Phase-out Plan for Single-Use Plastic Products. ~ A Phase-Out Plan, hereinafter
referred to as the Plan, shall, within six months upon the effectivity of this Act, be formulated
by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the cooperation of
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the Department of Finance (DOF) Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and
other relevant departments and agencies of the government in consultation with all stakeholders.

The Plan shall contain strategies and concrete action plans in order to carry out the objective of
phasing out single-use plastic products in the country within the given time frame provided in
this Act.

Specifically, the Plan shall, at the minimum, have the following components:

a. Consumption Reduction Program. ~ The DTI, in cooperation with the DENR. and
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in consultation with
stakeholders, shall formulate a Consumption Reduction Program to achieve a
significant reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic products within the
three years prior to their total phase-out as provided in this Act. Such measures shall
include, but not be limited to, national consumption reduction targets. measures
ensuring that reusable alternatives to those products are made available at the point
of sale to the final consumer and economic instruments such as ensuring that single-
use plastic products are not provided free of charge at the point of sale to the final
consumer.

b. Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes. ~ Extended producer responsibility

schemes shall be formulated by the DENR as part of interim measures in order to
cushion the impact of single-use plastic products on the environment within the three
years prior to their total phase-out as provided in this Act

¢. Biodegradable Alternatives for Single-Use Plastic Products. ~ The DOST is hereby
tasked with assisting local manufacturers in developing or acquiring the appropriate
technology for the production or manufacture of biodegradable alternatives,

d. Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Rewards and Incentives. ~ The DOF, the DILG and the DT!
are hereby mandated to establish mechanisms that would provide fiscal and/or non-
fiscal rewards and incentives that shall encourage manufacturers, importers, sellers

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and end-users to help in the objective to phase out single-use plastic products in the
country.

e. Separate Collection Plan. ~ As an additional interim measure in order to cushion the
impact of single-use plastic products on the environment, local government units
shall institute mechanisms to collect separately, waste single-use plastic products
For this purpose, the Barangays, through their Barangay Councils, shall be tasked
with the primary role of ensuring that waste single-use plastic products are separately
collected. The Barangay Councils shall establish a volunteer program that shail
ensure the participation of the members of their respective communities in
monitoring the separation of waste single-use plastic products from other wastes so
that they may be separately collected.

f, Awareness-Raising Measures. — The DENR shall formulate an_ information
dissemination plan to inform consumers of, among others, the impact of littering and
other inappropriate waste disposal of single-use plastic products on the environment.
available re-use systems and waste management options for these products as well
as best practices in sound waste management.

Sec. 6. Penalties. - The following penalties shall be meted for violations of the
provisions of Section 4 hereof:
First Offense - A fine of Ten thousand pesos (PhP 10,000.00):
Second Offense r A fine of Fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00);
Third Offense - A fine of Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00)
and the suspension of its Business Permit for a period of
one year.

‘The penalties herein provided shall be imposed:

a. Upon the owner, manager, administrator, or proprietor. for individual
proprietorships;

b. Upon all partners for general partnerships and the general partner/s for limited
partnerships:

©. Upon the branch manager of a particular offending business establishment and
solidarily upon the President, Vice-President, corporate officers as well as the Chief
Operating Officer for incorporated businesses; and

d. All such persons, not falling within any of the descriptions/titles abovementioned,
being in charge of the particular offending corporation, company or business
establishment, and failing to follow the prohibitions herein defined.

See. 7. Implementing Rules. ~ The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), in cooperation with the DILG, the DTI, the DOF, and the DOST, in consultation with
all stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.



Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

valid or

se. ~ The provisions of any law, whether general or special. rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

Sec. 10. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,