2 fast food outlets, 30 other establishments violate Mandaue City’s ban on plastic bags

Mandaue City’s chief of staff Elaine Bathan (right) and Cenro head Araceli Barlam look at the pictures as evidences against the two fast food chains that violated the city’s ban on plastic bags. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

THE City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Mandaue City submitted yesterday names of two fast food chains whose business permits are subject for revocation after violating the city’s Plastic Bag Prohibition Ordinance of 2010.

Under City Ordinance 12-2010-562, the use and distribution of disposable plastic bags and polystyrene containers such as styrofoam in any establishments in the city, including carenderias and sari-sari stores, are prohibited.

The ordinance requires only the use of “paper bags, cloth, recyclable paper and/or reusable checkout bags.”

The city’s chief of staff, Atty. Elaine Bathan, said the Cenro recommended to the mayor’s office the revocation of the business permits of Chowking at Gaisano Grandmall and McDonalds in Labogon for not complying with the city’s ordinance for the second time.

Bathan personally went to the two establishments on Sunday to verify if they violated the ordinance.

Bathan clarified that no establishment, whether big or small, is exempted from the plastic ban ordinance.

“We deployed our eco-wardens in the different establishments within the city to ensure the enforcement of the ordinance,” Bathan said.

Archt. Araceli Barlam, head of Cenro, said establishments found violating the ordinance were given notices.

Barlam said Cenro is holding random and surprise inspections on establishments. Violators will be given notices and asked to explain.

“Since it is random and surprise, the second time that we catch them, their business names will be reported to the mayor’s office for recommendation of revocation of permit,” Barlam said.

Aside from the two establishments, 30 other establishments in Mandaue were also found violating the plastic ban ordinance during the period August 1-5.

However, Cenro also found 17 establishments complying with the ordinance.

Bathan said the city supposedly could already revoke the business permits of the offenders because the ordinance was already approved last 2010 and “that the ordinance did not say first, second, third offense.”

The city issued notices to violators to give them ample time to replace their plastic bags with paper bags and other reusable bags.

Barlam said that currently, Cenro has 14 eco-wardens and is planning to add other eco-wardens for the enforcement of the ordinance. Their target is 50. Barlan also clarified that no size of plastics is exempted in the ordinance.