Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5048

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. FREDERICK W. SIAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Several weeks after the Manila Bay cleanup led by various government agencies and
volunteers, the problem or presence of garbage there still persists. We need a sustainable and
scalable solution to the solid waste crisis.

In Hligan City, residents must be vigilant against polluters and litterbugs so that our
beautiful tourist spots will continue to attract more tourists and our barangays will be far from
the threat of diseases. Our people and our city are our greatest treasures.

Appeals to Filipinos to return their plastic bottles and wrappers, and other solid wastes
to redemption centers are not enough. Unattractive is the thought of having to go back to the
store carrying a load or bags of recyclable solid waste. However, consumers will think twice
when that chore is matched and rewarded, more so when the reward is enticing like one kilo of
commercial rice for every kilo of plastic waste deposited at the redemption center.

With this incentive, the consumer will now want to segregate their waste at home, in
their kitchen. They will have a bag or box in the kitchen where they will collect all plastic
bottles, wrappers, and containers. They will not mix their recyclable waste with their food
waste. When Filipino families do their general house cleaning and knowing there are
incentives for proper disposal of recyclable waste and junk, they will now set aside the
disposables in a large bag or container and go to the nearest materials recovery facility to
exchange their junk and waste for cash or basic goods their families can use.

This is what we envision will happen when this bill is enacted into law. A whole nation
actively engaged in segregating and recycling their waste materials because they are motivated
to do so. Altruism and civic duty are good, but the fervor does not last for everyone. This bill
would keep that fire of love for the environment alive and burning.

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An earlier version of this bill was filed by Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon, III during the 17
Congress.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in collaboration with the
respective Local Government Units shall be tasked to encourage individuals, households, civic
associations, parents-teachers associations, homeowners associations, and non-profit
institutions to gather and exchange collected non-hazardous and recyclable solid wastes,
including but not limited to plastic bottles, wrappers, bags, sachets, metal canisters,
unserviceable or used electrical and electronic devices, discarded hardware and recyclable
computer parts.

This bill propose that solid wastes collected shall be exchanged for rice, water, canned
goods, basic household consumer items, or cash. The bill further proposes that the DENR, DA,
and DTI shall determine the reasonable and compliance-inducing exchange values for
graduated weights or volumes of solid wastes surrendered.

National government agencies, private corporations and government-owned or
controlled corporations are encouraged to establish special ventures with the specific mission
of redeeming and recovering recyclable wastes which shall provide for incentives and form
part of their corporate social responsibility programs.

Swift passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5048

Introduced by: HON. FREDERICK W. SIAO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE INCENTIVIZED
SOLID WASTE REDEMPTION AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Pera sa Basura Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to adopt a

systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall:

(a) Ensure the protection of the public health and environment;

(b) Utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable

resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery;

(©) Set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through
source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, recycling,
Te-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and
disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities

in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles;

(d) Ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal
of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice

in ecological waste management excluding incineration;

(©) Promote national research and development programs for improved solid waste
management and resource conservation techniques, more effective institutional

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arrangement and indigenous and improved methods of waste reduction, collection,
separation and recovery;

(f) Encourage greater private sector participation in solid waste management;

(g) Retain primary enforcement and responsibility of solid waste management with
local government units while establishing a cooperative effort among the national
government, other local government units, non- government organizations, and the
private sector;

(h) Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among waste generators through the
application of market-based instruments;

(i) Institutionalize public participation in the development and implementation of
national and local integrated, comprehensive, and ecological waste management
programs; and

G) Strength the integration of ecological solid waste management and resource
conservation and recovery topics into the academic curricula of formal and non-formal
education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry.

Section 3. Incentivized Redemption of Solid Wastes. There is hereby established an
Incentivized Solid Waste Redemption System, whereby individuals, households, civic
associations, parents-teachers associations, homeowners associations, and non-profit
institutions shall be encouraged to gather and exchange collected non-hazardous and recyclable
solid wastes, including but not limited to plastic bottles, wrappers, bags, sachets, metal
canisters, unserviceable or used electrical and electronic devices, discarded hardware and
recyclable computer parts. The solid wastes collected shall be exchanged for rice, water,
canned goods, basic household consumer items, or cash.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the
Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry, shall determine the
reasonable and compliance-inducing exchange values for graduated weights or volumes of
solid wastes surrendered, provided that the minimum exchange value of one kilogram of non-
hazardous and recyclable plastic wastes is one kilogram of commercial quality rice or its cash
equivalent, while for one kilogram of metallic, non-hazardous, recyclable waste is two
kilograms of commercial quality rice or its cash equivalent.

For hazardous waste recovery, the DENR, DTI, and DA shall establish a Hazardous
Waste Recovery Protocols and Reporting System, through which individuals may report the
exact location and details of the suspected hazardous waste, so that specially-trained and
equipped personnel or teams may be deployed to safely recover the confirmed hazardous waste,
The Hazardous Waste Recovery Protocols and Reporting System shall have a Cash Rewards

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feature to encourage the public to help government pinpoint and confirm the exact location of
hazardous wastes.

Section 4. Incentivized Systemic Recovery of Solid Wastes. To encourage large -
scale, corporate-level systemic recovery of solid wastes, the DENR, DTI, and Department of
Finance are hereby mandated to jointly adapt the Carbon Credits system for reducing carbon
emissions to the realm of solid waste recovery and reduction.

These national government agencies shall also enable private corporations and
government-owned or controlled corporations to establish special purpose corporations or joint
ventures with the specific mission of redeeming and recovering plastic wastes. Enabling shall
include a combination of mechanisms and incentives designed for corporate social
responsibility programs and non-tax incentives.

Section 5. Public Information, Education, and Communication. To adequately
inform the general public about the purposes, mech: ms, and incentives of this Act, the
concerned agencies shall conduct massive public formation, education, and communication
campaigns at the barangay level, in educational institutions, and at workplaces.

Section 6. Implementing Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations. The Secretaries of
Environment and Natural Resources, of Trade and Industry, of Agriculture, and of Finance
shall jointly approve and issue, the implementing guidelines, rules and regulations within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 7. Appropriations. The annual budget to implement this Act shall be included
in the regular or special appropriations of the concerned implementing agencies.

Section 8. Separability. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, and administrative orders or
Parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the online version of the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation or with established internet website presence.

Approved.

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