FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.N~. 1931 
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.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Fomteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1931 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
JilL 
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REQUIRING RETAIL STORES THAT PROVIDE PLASTIC BAGS TO CONSUMERS TO 
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IMPLEMENT A PLASTIC BAG COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Plastic Bag Recycling Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. - The State shall protect and advance the right of 
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the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
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The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable 
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development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with 
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environmental problems. 
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The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is 
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primarily area-based. 
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Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all 
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and should, therefore, be the concern of all. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(A) "Consumer" means any person who makes a purchase at retail for any purpose other 
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than resale. 
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(B) "Manufacturer" means the producer of a plastic carry-out bag sold to a store. 
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(C) "Operator" means a person in control of, or having daily responsibility for, the daily 
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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" meaus any plastic, latex, or polypropylene carry-out bag 
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provided by a store to a consumer at the point of sale. 
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(E) "Providing plastic bags to consumers" means the act of a retail store of giving to a 
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consumer a plastic bag to store or transport goods purchased at retail. 
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(F) "Purchase at retail" means the acquisition of the ownership to or title to taugible 
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personal property tln·ough a sale at retail. 
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(G) "Reusable bag" means either of the following: 
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(I) A bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has handles; or 
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(2) A durable plastic bag with haudles that is specifically designed and 
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manufactured for multiple reuse. 
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(H) "Store" means a retail establishment that has gross sales of over One Hundred 
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Thousand Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO) each month, and that provides plastic carry-out bags 
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to its consumers as a result of the sale of a product. 
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SECTION 4. In-Store Recycling Program.-
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(A) Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the operator of a store that 
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provides plastic carry-out bags to consumers as part of a purchase at retail shall establish au in-
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store recycling program pursuaut to this Act that provides au opportunity for consumers of the 
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store to return to the store the plastic carry-out bags. 
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(B) A retail establishment that does not meet the definition of a store in this Act aud that 
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provides plastic carry-out bags to consumers at the point of sale may also adopt an in-store 
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recycling program as specified in this Act. 
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(C) An in-store recycling program provided by the operator of a store shall include all of 
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the following: 
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(I) A plastic carry-out bag provided by the store shall have printed or displayed 
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on the bag, in a manner visible to a consumer, the words "PLEASE RETURN TO A 
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P ARTICIP ATING STORE FOR RECYCLING." 
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(2) A plastic carry-out bag collection bin shall be placed in each store and shall be 
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visible, easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked that the collection bin is 
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available for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic carry-out bags. 
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(3) All plastic bags collected by the store shall be collected, transported, and 
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recycled. 
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(4) The store shall maintain records describing the collection, transport, and 
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recycling of plastic bags collected for a minimum of three years and shall make the 
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records available to the Department ofEnviromnent and Natural Resources or to the local 
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government concerned, upon request, to demonstrate compliance with this Act. 
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(5) The operator of the store shall make reusable bags available to consumers 
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within the store, which may be purchased and used in lieu of using a plastic carry-out bag 
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or paper bag. 
This subsection is not applicable to a retail establishment specified 
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pursuant to Section 4(B). 
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SECTION 5. Penalties.-
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(A) A civil liability in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) for the 
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first violation of this Act, Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) for the second violation, 
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and Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) for the third and subsequent violations shall 
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be imposed upon stores violating this Act. 
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(B) Any civil penalties collected pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section shall be paid to 
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the local government of the local government unit where the store is located. The penalties 
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collected pursuant to this section shall go to an Enviromnent Protection Fund to be used by the 
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local govermnent to enforce this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The national govermnent shall appropriate such amounts 
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as JTlay be necessary to carry out the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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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 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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