The City Council in the Philippines has sanctioned the plastic bags to be banned in Mandaluyong, Philippines. This was enacted through the issuance of the Ordinance No. 533, S-2013, which is is known as "Ordinance Regulating the Use of Plastic Bags and Styrophors in All Commercial and Business Establishment in the City of Mandaluyong and Prescribing Penalties Thereof". This ordinance applied to all kinds of styrofoam and plastic bags. This ban was enacted on April 20, 2012 however, was soon extended to Mondays to Fridays the following year. Business corporations who violated this law would have to pay a fine, ranging from 500 Philippine pesos to 5000 Philippine pesos. (500 pesos is about 11 USD and 5000 pesos is about 110 USD.) The City Council justified in issuing this ordinance by stating that "plastic bags" are globally "part of an environmental crisis". Indeed, the city of Mandaluyong in the Philippines was making a huge leap towards lessening people's unsavoury impact towards the environment.

More city in the Philippines soon adhered to this ordinance. In fact, at least 15 cities imposed punitive measures to those who violated this ordinance. The city of Muntinpula, for instance, imposed harsh punishments towards the businesses who violated the ordinance. Those who violated this law would have to pay a fee of P500 for the first offence, which is approximately 11 USD. Those who committed second offence would pay P1000 and so on. Muntinlupa has also called off approving some of the business establishments due to their multiple violations.

Some people may wonder why this ordinance is such a laudable act. Plastic bags, as a matter-of-fact, takes 500 years to decompose! Thus, constantly using plastic bags is very unsustainable and even hugely affects negatively to the environment! "500 years" is not a small number. This number should not be overlooked upon or even ignored, because this means that plastic bags would remain in the Earth throughout our generations.

 However, Philppines' City Council has effectively addressed this issue and made an efficient and huge move to minimise our impact towards nature. Many countries should also adopt this plan and enact this initiative in their respective cities and regions! 

The picture below shows a Filipino man's buying a meat in the wet market, using a cloth bag due to the enactment of ordinance, which banned the use of plastic bags.