.

Consistency is essential for ensuring that the goals of reducing plastic pollution are

achieved, as poorly enforced bans may not have a significant impact on the

environment. According to the Policy Implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 9003 in

the Philippines: A Case Study of Cebu City (2013), the Republic Act No.9003, also

known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (ESWMA), was enacted by the

Philippine Congress and is considered one of the most comprehensive and forward-

thinking solid waste management laws in Asia. As stated by Galarpe and Parilla (2012),

the plastic related issues in the country have led to environmental and health concerns.

These problems have arisen because local and national governments lack the financial,

human, and technical resources required for effective waste management. As a result,

inadequate waste management practices, such as traditional landfills and dumpsites,

pose ecological and health risks. The local administration began promoting the usage of

fewer plastics.

According to the City Government of Baguio (2020), in 2017, the Baguio City Council

passed City Ordinance No. 35 Series of 2017, also known as the Plastic and Styrofoam-

free Baguio Ordinance, which requires all businesses to offer paper bags, reusable

bags, or containers made of paper or biodegradable materials to customers for free or

at an price so they can carry out products or other items from the place of purchase.

The complete text of the ordinance was available to the researchers on the Baguio City

Government's official website. These are a few relevant clauses from the

aforementioned ordinance. In addition, the the aforementioned regulation stipulates that

all establishments must offer paper bags, reusable bags, or containers made of paper
or biodegradable materials to consumers for free or at an expense so they can carry out

goods or additional products from their place of purchase. The sale/purchase receipt or

invoice should include whether or not the store is providing the reusable bag.

Customers may, however, bring their own bags or use any kind of bag—aside from

plastic bags—in the store to help themselves take out their purchases in place of the

bags the store provides.

In order to guarantee the seamless execution, Section 8 of this ordinance

requires the establishment of a technical working group to serve as the monitoring and

oversight committee. This group will be responsible for spearheading the information

and education campaign, which will include issuing penalties and fines for infractions.

The technical working group is also expected to provide an annual report to the City

Council and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Board office detailing how

businesses, operators, government offices, schools, and other interested parties are

adhering to the ordinance. This report should include recommendations for appropriate

modifications to the ordinance to ensure proper implementation (City Government of

Baguio, 2020). In the article of Agoot (2019), it is reported that after two years of

enforcing the plastic and styro-free ordinance in Baguio City, there was a thirty percent

of reduction in plastic waste volume.

In addition the study of Marcial et al. (2016) states that according to the Section 85 of

Batangas City Ordinance No. 16 series of 2010, it is illegal for any commercial

establishment or individual to sell or give plastic bags to customers for the purpose of

packaging wet and dry goods or improperly disposing of solid trash. Such an act

carried a penalty under the same legislation. According to Section 86 of Batangas City's
Environmental Code, a first infraction carries a fine of 500.00 pesos, a second offense

1000.00 pesos, and subsequent crimes 1,500.00 pesos, plus, at the judge's discretion,

six months in jail. The LGU was forced to draft an ordinance to penalize community

members who violate. An example drawn from a rule in the code prohibiting packing

with plastic and Styrofoam. This is applicable not only to the wet market and other

locations, but also to all Batangas City establishments. [Link]

reported that the ordinance applies to both vendor and buyer, that whoever they caught

will be subjected to some penalties and as to those business establishments.

Such ordinance also created the TFK or Task Force Kalikasan, who check the people's

compliance to the ordinance. Members of the TFK walk around town with camera to

take photos of the non-complying constituents. The photos that were will be printed and

evidence the act should they deny such. This will be sent to the offender with a letter of

reminder of what he/she has committed, including its corresponding penalty. Not only

the TFK is tasked with the enforcement of the ordinance, the services of the municipal

police and barangay officials down to barangay tanod is summoned for strict and

consistent implementation (Marcial et al., 2016).

Furthermore, the study of Pacatang (2020), the Ordinance No. 13-245, which

declared Fridays to be "No Plastic Day," was passed by the city administration in 2013

and was strictly enforced. This legislation was compliant with legislation No. 123, the

Garbage Collection and Environmental Health Protection and Sanitation Code of 1998

for the City of Dipolog, another local ordinance on cleanliness and sanitation.
 In an attempt to maintain a healthy ecology and increase cleanliness and

sanitation in Dipolog City, the local plastic bag ordinance, No Plastic Day on Friday, and

Ordinance No. 123 on sanitation and cleanliness were created to control the use of

plastic bags. Every Friday and Saturday is tabo, or market day, when it is enforced.

Both buyers and sellers have generally complied with the law. Nowadays, the majority

of sellers utilize paper bags, and fish vendors wrap the fish they sell for customers using

banana leaves or netbags. Customers also bring their own baskets, bags, and

containers these days, and it appears that both parties are cooperating and supporting

one other fully (Pacatang 2020).

However according to Rani (2020), India grapples with plastic pollution,

generating 14 million tons of plastic annually, attributed to the absence of a

structured recycling system. In response, the Indian Government introduced the

Plastic Waste Management Rule 2016, implementing a resolution to prohibit the

manufacturing, trade, and use of single-use plastic.

Based on the study recommendations, it is advised that the Government should

strengthen the authority of the Department of Environment Protection and

related organizations, enabling them to promptly address those violating

regulations. Enforcing such strict measures would effectively reduce the use and

production of polythene bags. Local government representatives and political

leaders can play vital roles in supporting law enforcement at the community

level. Moreover, the government should allocate additional resources to

encourage alternative options such as jute, paper, and cotton bags by providing

necessary incentives for the establishment of these industries. At the same

time, efforts should be made to keep the prices of substitutes reasonable,

ensuring accessibility for consumers. Additionally, immediate actions should be

taken for the reemployment and rehabilitation of individuals previously involved

in the polythene-producing industry.

Policy Implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 9003 in the Philippines: A Case Study of Cebu City.
(2013). [Link]

Galarpe, V. R. K. R., & Parilla, R. (2012). Influence of Seasonal Variation on the Bio- physicochemical
Properties of Leachate and Groundwater in Cebu. . . ResearchGate.
[Link]
_on_the_Bio_physicochemical_Properties_of_Leachate_and_Groundwater_in_Cebu_C
ity_Sanitary_Landfill_Philippines

City government of Baguio. (2020). [Link]

Agoot, L. (2019 January 14). Ban curbs Baguio City plastic waste by 30%. Retrieved from
[Link]

Marcial Pastor, Hernandez, Bobadilla, Escalona, Escabel, M. K., Janet, Ivee Camille, Jonathan, Ederlina.
(2016). Effectiveness in Implementation of Anti-Plastic Ordinance in Batangas City.
[Link]

Shawon, I. H., Haider, M. Z., & Oni, F. A. (2023b). EFFECTIVENESS OF BANNING PLASTIC BAG IN
BANGLADESH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Khulna University Studies, 112–118.
[Link]

David Harold Q. Pacatang. (2020). [Link]

[Link]