Business sector has shown strong support in adhering to the Single-Use Plastic Regulation Ordinance in Tacloban City, a development that Forester Jonathan Hijada, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) head, shared in a recent interview.

Even during the initial information dissemination phase of the said Ordinance No. 2023-15-06, signed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez on March 23, 2023, many of the business owners proactively transitioned from the synthetic plastic bags to more eco-friendly alternatives like paper bags and oxo-biodegradable “sando bags.”

Starting later this year, CENRO, in coordination with the Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD), will start monitoring compliance with the ordinance. Hijada expressed optimism, stating that a significant portion of the business community has embraced the changes required by the law.

The “strict” regulation took effect on October 1, 2024, following a nine-month transition period from its enactment on January 1. Section 11 provided business operators ample time to deplete their existing plastic bag inventories and allowed the consumers to conform the adjustments.

With the ordinance now being rigidly enforced, violators—whether establishments or individuals—may face penalties of up to Php 5,000, suspension of business licenses, or imprisonment of up to six months, subject to the discretion of the court.

However, the official clarified that suppliers of synthetic plastic bags are still allowed to operate, acknowledging Tacloban’s role as Eastern Visayas’ center of commerce. Per records from BPLD this 2024, there are 8,319 establishments doing business in the city.