FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. __5135

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4'» District, City of Manila

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Solid waste has remained the most visible and dangerous environmental
problem of the country. Plastic wastes constitute a substantial portion, by weight and
volume, of the Philippines’ sordid solid waste stream.

Plastics are essentially non-biodegradable. It takes more than 100 years to
dissolve them and thus, it pollutes the air and water, depletes natural :esources and
damages natural habitat. And recycling plastic is more expensive as compared to
glass or metal materials because their sorting step or recycling phase is labor intensive
and difficult.

As plastics play an increasing role in packaging and popularizing consumer
products, they also take up a growing percentage of solid waste environmental
challenge.

This legislation mandates that all department stores, malls, and commercial
establishments shall use and utilize reusable ecologically-friendly bags and shall
replace the existing plastic shopping bags they give to customers and patrons.

It is a simple approach to huge plastic wastes we generate. But solving the
country's garbage problem has a lot to do with lifestyle. And this bill is submitted as a
commitment that every individual must participate and must be responsible in
resolving the problem...and preserving Mother Earth.

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

MA. vue BONOAN-DAVID

4th District, City of Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 5185

“Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID _
4% District, City of Manila

AN ACT PROMOTING SOUND WASTE MANAGEMENT
BY REQUIRING ALL DEPARTMENT STORES, MALLS, AND COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS TO UTILIZE REUSABLE ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY
SHOPPING BAGS AND PROVIDE THEM FREE OF CHARGE TO
CUSTOMERS AND PATRONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to solve the country's complex waste problem.
The right to health and right to environment of the people are accorded premier
considerations. To this end, a simple waste garbage solution approach combining
citizen discipline and responsible corporate management is adopted.

SECTION 2. All department stores, malls, and commercial establishments are hereby
mandated to use and utilize reusable and environment-friendly shopping bags within
six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.

This Act covers all department stores, malls, and retail establishments with two
(2) or more stores, sales offices or branches nationwide or those with capitalization of
more than five hundred thousand pesos (Php3,000,000.00), whichever is appropriate.

Three years after the effectivity of this Act, the use of reusable and
environment-friendly shopping bags is hereby mandated in all commercial
establishments and shall be mandated as a requirement of registering or operating a
business or commercial endeavor.

SECTION 3. All department stores, malls and commercial establishments are given.
freedom to choose and autonomy to adopt designs, specifications and materials
taxing into consideration ecological factors and solution to waste management.

The reusable environment-friendly shopping bags shall be given for free and
without charge to patrons, customers, clients and shoppers. The department stores,


#7 sndilsrandl' commercial estab tishinents are encouraged wo adopt’markéting promotions
and programs that will promote implementation of this Act.

Section 4. Violations of this Act shall be imposed a penalty of revocation of license or
permit to operate a business and a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos
(Php100,000.00). Fines‘collected as penalties shall be constituted as a special protection
of Mother Earth.

If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association or other juridical entity,
the penalty shall be imposed on the officer or officers of said corporation, partnership,
association or juridical entity who caused the violation.

SECTION 5. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources in consultation with all concerned stakeholders
from the private sectors shall issue the necessary rules and regulations of this Act
within sixty (60) days after effectivity of this Act.

The DTI and DENR shall make themselves available for consultation free of
charge on the adoption and utilization of reusable and environment-friendly
shopping bags.

SECTION. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.

SECTION. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (13) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general.

Approved.