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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6085

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO-

AN ACT BANNING THE MANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, SALE, AND USE OF
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS THEROF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Plastic is a miracle material that saved countless lives, facilitated growth of energy and
revolutionized safe food storage. Plastic has become part of our modern lives — they are cheap
and convenient. However, the convenience of these single-use plastics comes at a very high
cost to the environment, human health and our country’s economy.

They do not only pollute our water but also our land, block drainages and cause flooding, harm
both marine and wildlife, is a blight particularly in coastal areas, waterways and public spaces,
and take up valuable space in waste disposal facilities where they will persist for hundreds of
years because they do not degrade. In addition, the production and distribution of plastic bags
contribute significantly to climate change.

In the Philippines, the problem in plastic pollution is very alarming -ranked by the Ocean
Conservancy charity and the McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment as the third
biggest ocean polluter of plastic. A report written by the Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives (GAIA) titled “Plastic Exposed: How Waste Assessments and Brand Audits are
Helping Cities Fight Plastic Pollution” revealed that Filipinos use more than 163 million plastic
sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin film bags daily. These number
are based on Waste Assessment and Brand Audit (WABA) methodology.

This bill aims to ban the manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic products to prevent
further damage to the environment and to provide strong penalties to deter violations that will ¥
help'in ensuring a sustainable and safe community.

In view of the foregoing the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative

First District of Bulacan


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 6085

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO.

AN ACT BANNING THE MANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, SALE, AND USE OF
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS THEROF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Single-Use Plastic Ban of 2020”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to protect and advance
the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature. It shall also be the policy of the State to Protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them,

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows

(a) Single-use plastic ~ shall refer to disposable plastic products which are commonly used for
Packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or
recycled;

SECTION 4. Prohibition and Phase-out of Single-Use Products. The manufacture, sale,
importation, and use of single-use plastic products shall be prohibited within one (1) year after
the effectivity of this Act,

SECTION 5. Phase-out Plan for Single-Use Plastic Products. A plan to phase out single-
use plastic products shall be formulated within three (3) months upon the effectivity of this Act
by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with cooperation of
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and
‘other concerned agencies of the government.

The phase out plan shall cover the following:

1, Prohibition of single-use plastics by food establishments, retail stores, markets,
supermarkets and groceries during interim period;

2. Awareness-raising to encourage consumers to use reusable materials in substitution for
single-use plastics, and to encourage proper recycling of plastic products.

3. Collection, recycling, and proper disposal by the manufacturers of single-use plastic
products already in circulation prior to the effectivity of the ban;

4. Establishment of recycling centers in local government units.

SECTION 6. Prohibition on the importation of single-use plastics. Within one (1) year from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Finance, through the Bureau of Customs (BOC)
in coordination with relevant agencies, shall ensure that no single-use plastics will be imported
to the country.


SECTION 7. Recycling of used single-use plastics. It shall be the duty if the plastic
manufacturer to properly collect and recycle the single-use plastics they produced that are
already in circulation prior to the effectivity of the ban, in the manner that is consistent with
existing laws, rules, and regulations and using mechanism to ensure that no harmful chemical
or substances are released to the environment.

SECTION 8. Compliance Monitoring. The DENR, DTI, in coordination with LGUs, shall
conduct regular inspection and monitoring of this Act. The certification of compliance shall be
necessary for the renewal of local business permits of manufacturers and business
establishments.

SECTION 9. Penalties and Sanctions. The following penalties shall be imposed for
violations of the provisions of sections 4, 6, and 7.

First offense - affine of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00)
Second offense - a fine of twenty-five thousand pesos (Php 25,000.00
Third offense - a fine of two hundred fifty thousand pesos

(Php250,000.00) and the cancellation of its business
permit. Thereafter, the business _ establishment,
manufacturer, or business permit for a period of five (5)
years and approval of business permit is contingent with
proof of measures undertaken to comply with this Act
and other relevant laws, rules and regulations.

If the offender is a corporation, trust, or firm, partnership, association or any other entity, the
penalty shall be imposed on the entity’s responsible officers, such as but not limited to, the
president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing director, or, partner directly
responsible thereof.

SECTION 10. Responsibilities of the Local Government Units. To promote the
implementation of this Act, the LGUs shall be responsible for the following:

1. Improve the capacity of LGUs and local law enforcement agencies for the
implementation of this Act;

2. Establish recycling centers and encourage the establishment of business enterprises that
promote zero-waste;

3, Conduct information and awareness-raising campaigns on single-use plastic regulation.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Environmental and
‘Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other concerned government
agencies shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 12. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General
‘Appropriations Act of the Year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

The LGU shall allocate necessary funding from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to
cover the programs under this Act.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the same shal] not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or portion thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.


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