The ban on the use of plastic bags in Quezon City has resumed on March 1.

In a statement, the city government said Mayor Joy Belmonte led the kickoff-rites last Sunday by inspecting markets in Galas, Muñoz, Suki, A. Bonifacio, Frisco, and Kamuning in Quezon City to distribute bayongs and eco-bags to marketgoers.

Belmonte also visited a supermarket in Barangay Kamuning.

The city government said the activity serves as a kick-off event in relation to the re-implementation of the City Ordinance 2868-2019 or the Plastic Bag Ban, which prohibits the use of plastics as carry-out bags in retail establishments through the city.

Belmonte said the activity is also part of the city’s celebration of Women’s Month this March which highlights the role of women in environmental protection.

Under the Kababaihan Para sa Kalikasan movement with the theme “Babae: Tayo ang Pagbabago,” women are encouraged to be more pro-active and be catalysts for change given their important role in our households and communities.

“We suspended the implementation of the ordinance during the pandemic para hindi po makadagdag sa uncertainty, but now we can manage the pandemic better so itinuloy na natin,” Belmonte said.

“Alam naman natin na plastics are one of the greatest polluters of our oceans and bodies of water, clogs our waste streams and pose health risks,” she added.

The city already implemented the ban in January 2020, but was temporarily lifted in May through the issuance of the city’s Localized Guidelines for Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and its succeeding versions.

Under Ordinance 2868-2019, supermarkets, malls, shopping centers, fast-food restaurants, and other businesses violating the ban will be meted out with a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, a fine of P3,000 and revocation of environmental clearance for  the second offense, and revocation of business permit and a fine of P5,000 for the third offense.

The city government earlier said that it will also be enforcing the ban on the distribution of disposable and single-use plastics in restaurants and hotels for dine-in transactions starting July 1, 2021. Its implementation was also deferred through the MECQ guidelines.

As stated in City Ordinance 2876-2019, restaurants are prohibited from distributing single-use plastic/ disposable materials to their dine-in customers such as plastic spoon and fork, knives, plastic/ paper cups, plates, plastic/ paper straws, coffee stirrers and other disposable materials and Styrofoam.

For food delivery and take away orders, food establishments are also encouraged to adopt a “by-request protocol,” where they ask their customers if they need single-use plastic utensils and condiment sachets before providing it to them.

Food delivery applications such as Grab Food and Food Panda are also requested to consider incorporating the protocol to positively contribute in the plastic waste reduction program of the city.

Meanwhile, hotels in the city will also be prohibited from distributing soap, shampoo, shower gels, liquid soap, conditioners, and other items used for hygienic purposes in sachets and single-use containers.

The city government said it will be deputizing enforcers to check each establishment’s compliance to the ordinances.

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa on Thursday (February 25) announced that the Senate will be conducting a hearing to shed light on the ‘misencounter’ between the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The lawmaker said the investigation which will be conducted on March 2 will look into the seeming lack of proper coordination from both camps.

In a statement, Dela Rosa said that there was also negligence in the proper dissemination of that coordination to the operating units.

“Through our hearing and investigation, we will try to ferret out the truth and give [an] opportunity to all parties involved in this unfortunate incident to explain their side,” he added.

Dela Rosa said the hearing will help the Senate determine if there is a need to revise laws concerning law enforcement authorities. -AAC

MANILA, Philippines – A joint board of inquiry, comprised of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), will be formed to look into the gunfight that transpired between its members near the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Wednesday night.

“In the interest of determining the truth behind the incident, a joint PNP-PDEA Board of Inquiry will be formed to determine what transpired and who should be held liable,” the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) said in a statement.

The PNP-PIO added that Police chief General Debold Sinas has appointed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as the lead investigating body, while the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has been designated “to speak on any updates from the PNP in order to keep the public updated with accurate and relevant information.”

The shooting incident between police officers and anti-illegal drug operatives was said to have occurred in an area outside of the mall early Wednesday night.

The mall management said that its shoppers were safe inside its premises when the incident happened and asked the public to refrain from sharing any unconfirmed information online.

The gunfight left several casualties but it remains unclear how and why it transpired as the PNP and PDEA have yet to disclose information about the incident.

Following the gunfight, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said their agents were on a legitimate operation in the area but appealed to the media to allow them time to obtain clear details about the incident.

“Sa ngayon, isa lang po ang malinaw, na ang PDEA Special Enforcement Service ay nandoon on a legitimate operation po. ‘Yun lang ang alam namin at this point,” he said in a message to reporters.

Meanwhile, the PNP and PDEA both assured the public that the incident, while serious,  “will in no way affect the continuing operational relationship and coordination they have long firmed up in the fight against illegal drugs.”