A year after an order was signed to ban plastic bags, the City of Pasay gets ready to it coming into force.

The City of Pasay in the Philippines is readying itself for a plastic bag ban, which comes into effect in September.

However, there will not be a crackdown on stores and businesses that have not yet made a successful transition to a plastic bag free system.

The decision to prohibit the use of plastic bags in the city was agreed last year, after first being introduced by vice mayor Marlon Pesebre.

Known as City Ordinance No. 4647, the order was signed into being a year ago, with the authorities happy to allow a grace period of 12 months.

"I would like to remind all owners and operators of various stores and establishments that starting September, the city government will implement Ordinance No. 4647 Series of 2011, otherwise known as the Ordinance Regulating the Use of Non-Compostable Plastic Carryout Bags," mayor Tony G Calixto said.

While many businesses were initially concerned that they would lose a valuable source of income in the sale of plastic bags, they have, for example, been allowed on the cost to paper bags. The price must be reasonable, officials added.
The city follows in the footsteps of others in the Metro Manila area, which is made up of 16 cities.

Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Pasig, Marikina and Manila have all passed similar plastic bag bans in recent times.

"[It] will be gradually implemented to be able to educate the owners of the business establishments who will be affected," Mr Calixto added.

"We will conduct more information campaigns to get the support of the people as we implement the use of biodegradable paper bags or reusable shopping bags."