A STUDY ON THE

PRELIMINARY IMPACTS
OF
CITY ORDINANCE 2009-370
BANNING/REGULATING THE
USE OF PLASTIC BAGS
IN
ANTIPOLO CITY
March 2012

By
Grace P. Sapuay

DEDICATION
This paper is dedicated to the people of Antipolo City. May their
awareness on environmental issues and the protection of their city
increase more so that they will leave a legacy of a clean and orderly city,
with properly managed waste; so that the next generations will be able to
inherit a city which is sustainably managed by environmentally and
socially conscious populace who cling to a concept of a world free of
waste.

ABSTRACT
Among the prevalent local and national issues on solid waste
management is the burgeoning problem of plastic litter all over the
country. Local governments as well as national legislative bodies are
seeking ways to minimize if not to eliminate plastics in solid waste.
Recently, Antipolo City implemented a local ordinance regulating/banning
the use of plastic bags in the commercial sector. In order to find out the
effectiveness of such ordinance in bringing about desired behavioural
change a survey was undertaken in the main wet and dry public market of
Antipolo City. The survey hoped to determine the initial effects of the ban
on the solid waste situation in the city and on the attitudes of the citizens
in the community towards the ban and towards the environment. The
data gathered survey was analyzed using the Predictive Analysis Software
(PASW) Statistics (SPSS version 18). The results indicated positive impact
of the ban on the use of plastic bags on solid waste situation of the city as
well as on the attitude and behaviour of the constituency as proven by
higher percentage of those favouring the ordinance and the bringing of
reusable bags when shopping. This was due to strict implementation of
the ban amidst the difficulty of gaining its acceptance to those primarily
affected. This goes to show that strict implementation can serve as a key
to

minimization

of

plastics

management of solid waste.

and

perhaps

consequently

effective

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author is forever grateful to the following people who have made
invaluable contribution to this research:
1. Hon. Nilo Leyble, Mayor of Antipolo City
2. Mr. Melvin A. Cruz, City Administrator of Antipolo (and his staff)
3. Ms. Jocelyn Masangkay, Head of the City Ecological Solid Waste
Management Office (and her staff)
4. Mr. Cecilio Panganiban, Public Market Administrator
5. Mr. Jun Gamat of the City Market Office (and his staff)
6. Ms. Maricel G. Rodriguez, Enumerator
7. Ms. Erna E. Canale, Enumerator
8. Mr. Rodel Camonas, Enumerator
9. All participants in the survey
10. Ms. Cora Jose
11. Engr. Samuel Sapuay
12. Prof. Mayu Munarriz (class adviser, Plan 299)
13. Prof. Kevin Carl Santos (U.P. School of Statisitics)
14. Prof. Mark Anthony Javelosa (U.P. School of Statistics)
15. Mr. Tony Gangan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

1.1

Introduction

1.2

Objectives/Aims Of The Study

1.3

Significance Of The Study

1.4

Scope and Limitations

CHAPTER II : REVIEW OF LITERATURE

CHAPTER III : FRAMEWORK AND CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

CHAPTER IV : METHODOLOGY

12

4.1

Significance of the Survey

12

4.2

Survey Area

12

4.3

Research Design

12

4.3.1.

Data Collection Methodology

12

4.3.2.

Survey Description

13

4.3.3.

Statistical Design

14

CHAPTER V : FINDINGS

16

5.1

Description of the Study Area

16

5.2

Results of the survey

18

5.2.1

Profile of Participants

19

5.2.2

Knowledge and Awareness

22

5.2.3

Attitudes/Behaviour towards the Ban

24

5.2.4

Practices

29

5.2.5

Waste Segregation Practices

33

5.2.6

Statistical Analysis

35

CHAPTER VI : CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES
AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES

41

List of Figure

Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure

1: Framework and Conceptual Diagram of the Study ...................... 11

2: Areal Map of Antipolo Public Market (Google Earth) .................... 17
3: Close up View of Antipolo Public Market (Google Earth). ............. 17
4: Campaign Posters Displayed in Public Places in Antipolo City ....... 24
5: Responses on Bringing Reusable Bags to Shopping .................... 25
6: Preferrence for Current Ordinance and Willingness of Shoppers
to Buy Ecobags or Reusable Bags ............................................ 26
7: Response on Preference to Reusable Bag Over Disposable
Containers/Bags ................................................................... 27
8: Clean Street in Antipolo City .................................................... 33
9: Response on the Segregation of Garbage Indicating a Good
Level of Awareness in Urban Environment Management ............. 34
10: Shop-owners Practice of Waste Segregation at Home............... 34

List of Tables

Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table
Table

1 : Profile of Shop-owners Participants in the Survey ....................... 19

2 : Profile of Shoppers Participants in the Survey ............................ 21
3 : Awareness, Understanding and Satisfaction with the Ordinance ... 23
4 : Shoppers Comments on Buying their Own Reusable Bags ........... 28
5 : Shop-owners Opinions Regarding the Banning of Plastic Bags ..... 29
6 : Frequency and Percentage of Shoppers and Shop-owners Still
Using Plastic Bags ................................................................. 30
7 : Responses of Shop-owners to Whether Customers were Reduced
after the Implementation of the Ordinance ............................... 31
8 : Responses on the Reduction of Littering after the
Implementation of the Ban on Plastic Bags ............................... 32
9 : Age Group Vs. Choice of Carryout Container .............................. 36
10 : Age Group Vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance .............................. 37
11 : Educational Attainment Vs. Choice of Carryout container ........... 38
12 : Educational Attainment vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance ............. 38
13 : Income Category Vs. Choice of Carryout Container ................... 39
14 : Monthly Family Income Vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance ............ 40

CHAPTER I :
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

1.1

Introduction

Solid waste is among the major issues facing the Philippine society
today. More than ten (10) years after RA 9003 (The Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act 2001) has been signed into law, littering of solid
waste, most notably plastic bags, remain unabated. Peoples behaviour
towards solid waste has not changed. Most local government units have
not complied with the required engineered sanitary landfill (ESLF)
mandated by law and waste segregation is being done minimally all over
the country.
It is said that there is an on-going plastic bags pandemic1, and the
following are some of the facts about plastic bags:
1) Over 1 trillion plastic bags are used annually all over the world;
2) About 1 million plastic bags are used every minute;
3) A single plastic bag can take 2,000 years to degrade;
4) More than 3.5 million tons of plastic bags, sacks, and wraps
were discarded in 2008.
In the Philippines local initiatives had been launched to find
solutions to these issues. One of these initiatives was undertaken by the
City of Antipolo when it promulgated a local ordinance banning the use of
1

Facts about plastic bags pandemic, http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/top-facts/plastic-bag-facts (Accessed

Nov. 23, 2011)

plastic bags in commercial establishments. This research was done to

determine in general if the ban on the use of plastic bags was successful
in bringing about the desired change.

1.2

Objectives/Aims Of The Study

The proposed study has the following objectives:

a) To determine the initial impacts of the plastic bags ban in
terms of:
i)

Improvement of the solid waste situation in

Antipolo City;

ii)

The reactions of people on the implementation of

the ban.

b) To determine the effects of the ban in terms of:

i)

Changes in the behaviour of the people towards

management of solid waste;

ii)

Changes in the behaviour of the citizens towards

environmental awareness.

1.3

Significance Of The Study

While a few Local Government Units (LGUs) have made a move to

impose a ban on the use of plastic carryout bags, there is still an on-going
deliberation in the Congress as well as in the Senate regarding the
banning of plastic bags. Currently, the process is moving towards
2

regulation of plastic bags (production and use) instead of ban on their

use. The results of this study will help determine whether a ban is
effective in the improvement of solid waste situation in the country as
might be exemplified by Antipolo City.

1.4

Scope and Limitations

This research aims to study only the initial impacts of the

implementation of the plastic bags ban. As such, it will be limited only to
the preliminary determination of its effects for three months starting
November 2011 until February 2012. It will not be concerned with waste
segregation policies but will be limited only to the initial effects of the ban
on the solid waste situation in the city and on the attitudes of the citizens
in the community towards the ban and towards the environment.
Since the time to study the initial impact period is very short (one
month only); hence, the survey area will be limited to the main wet and
dry public market of Antipolo, which is located in the Poblacion.

CHAPTER II :
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Legislation banning the use of plastic is a fairly recent development

in the Philippines. No research has yet been conducted in the country as
regards

to

its

success,

behavioural

changes

of

the

citizens

or

improvement in solid waste management. With the dearth of material in

the library, literatures for this study were sourced from the internet,
which can be easily accessed within less than a second through the search
engine Google2. It has been known that the convenience of using plastic
bags has its accompanying detrimental effects to the environment, which
is the main reason for the creation of policies regulating such use. Begum
I (undated) extensively tackled the lifecycle of plastics and the ecological

The key words plastic bags ban ordinance yielded 218,000 results within 0.08 seconds. The

selection was scanned and only those materials pertinent to this study, which focus primarily on researches
regarding banning of plastic bags and its effects on the state of solid waste management as well as the
behaviour of people towards the ban and towards solid waste particularly plastic bags, were selected and
downloaded for review. Over seventeen (17) articles were chosen and these were further screened to come
down with a total of five (5) pertinent literatures, three (3) of which are published in international journals,
while two (2) are discussion papers. Of the five (5) papers selected, three (3) papers directly deal with the
results of the ban and its effect on the behaviour of consumers as well as on the environment while two (2)
papers deal with the adverse effects of plastics on the environment. The papers were chosen for their
relevance to the proposed research as well as their importance in providing some insights on how such a
research might be conducted. They also provided some ideas on the rates of success as well as sustainability in
terms of the reduction of plastic usage and waste production in relation to such policies.

consequences of its disposal on the environment particularly in India. The

author has also included in her discussion some policy instruments which
are being used all over the world especially the developing world, limiting
the use of plastic bags in order to manage plastic wastes. Ireland and
Australia, in particular have used these policy instruments with much
success. A levy on plastic bags at 0.15 Euro per bag in retail outlets
except fresh produce (which levies bags at 0.70 euro) resulted in a 90%
decrease in the use of disposable plastic bags in Ireland. Awareness
campaigns backing a Voluntary Code of Practice (which serves as warning
to retailers in Australia that a 25-cent levy will be enforced by 2005 if the
50% reduction target was not met) was able to reduce plastic bag
consumption by 22% in 2002.
A survey was conducted by Legese Adane and Diriba Muleta (2011)
particularly concerning the use, disposal and impacts of plastic bags on
the environment in Jimma City, Southwestern Ethiopia in order to assess
the impacts of plastic bags on the environment of the aforementioned
city. The study consisted of a survey on who uses the plastic bags and
how many of the respondents use plastic bags, how they dispose of such
bags after use and determined the impacts of plastic bags waste on the
surroundings around Jimma City. The results indicated a high proportion
of population using plastic bags because of affordability (cheap) and easy
availability. The study also found that open dumping is the manner of
disposal practiced widely by the respondents in the survey and that such
5

practices resulted in blockage of sewers and deterioration of the natural

beauty of the environment in their area. The authors found that a city
level legislation is necessary in curbing the use of plastic bags and end
the practice of distribution of free plastic bags by retailers as well as
manage plastic waste littering the streets of the City of Jimma.
Such legislations against the free use of plastic bags aim to manage
production and the rampant utilization of plastic bags in order to reduce
plastic bags waste, which were found littering the streets, canals, and all
other bodies of water. After a policy in China was implemented limiting
the use of free plastic bags from retailers to consumers in 2008 Xiufeng
Xing (2009) studied the trend consumer behaviour towards the use of
plastic bags as well as the environmental awareness of the public with
regards to the use of plastics and the impact of the ban, putting emphasis
on the results following imposition of the ban. The author noted that after
the policy took effect, it was seen that there has been a decrease in the
use of plastic bags in the supermarkets and that the total use of plastic
bags was reduced to roughly two-thirds of its previous use. However, this
policy seems difficult to implement in markets wherein traders were found
to use national standard plastic bags for inspection while using the
flimsier (illegal) type for regular use. In another study on the same policy
conducted

by

Chan-Halbrendt,

et

al,

(2009)

who

measured

the

preferences of residents in Tianjin, China between non-degradable plastic

bags and degradable non-plastic materials through a Conjoint Choice
6

Experiment (CCE), which is based on the idea that any good can be
described in terms of its attributes or characteristics and level of these
attributes. This was also used to explore the willingness of consumers to
pay for plastic carryout bags. Results of the study showed a preference
for bags which are made from materials other than non-degradable
plastic bags if such are sold cheaper. However, the experiment showed
that there are preference distinctions among age groups, which can be
exploited to devise strategies in promoting the effective implementation
of the policy. The researchers found that the policy has been carried for
over a year with some success, reducing the consumption of plastic bags
by as much as 66%.
Joining the growing number of countries creating tax levies as a
policy instrument to regulate the use of plastic bags is Botswana. In
assessing the effect of such legislation on the environment Johane
Dikgang and Martine Visser (2010) studied the behavioural responses of
people in Botswana towards plastic bags tax to curb demand on the use
of plastic bags. By analysing the sensitivity of consumers to the plastic
bags charges, the authors found out that the increase in the plastic bags
levy resulted in a sharp decline of consumption of plastic bags in shopping
per 1,000 BWP (Botswana Pulas) of retail purchases and the use of plastic
bags dropped to 24% weeks after the policy was implemented. The lowincome retailers experienced the steepest decline in consumption at 42%
followed by the high-income retailer at 39%. In comparing the effects of
7

such legislations in Ireland and South Africa, the authors found that
higher levies on plastic bags sustains the decrease in plastic shopping
bags demand and predicted that a high levy on plastic shopping bags in
Botswana will sustain such environmental effect.
In summary, the findings of the researchers have shown that
policies banning the use of free plastic bags as well as putting a levy on
plastic bags can help in limiting the use of plastic bags, consequently
reducing plastic waste in the areas of study. The studies, however, were
generally confined to consumer purchases in big supermarkets and did
not include those in the countryside, which was noted to have bigger use
of disposable plastic bags.

CHAPTER III :
FRAMEWORK AND CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

During the height of typhoon Ondoy, Metro Manila and the outlying
provinces were submerged in the flood for many days. Plastic bags were
the most noticeable solid waste found floating in the flood and clogging
the waterways. The plastic bags were, therefore, blamed as the cause of
the sluggishness of the flow of floodwaters in moving towards the
watercourses,

which

took

so

long

to

recede,

inundating

many

communities for several days. In view of this, some LGUs have made the
move to legislate ordinances banning the use of plastic bags in their
localities. Among them was Antipolo City, which promulgated City
Ordinance 2009-370. After a two-year moratorium, the ordinance is now
being implemented starting November 2011.
The study expects to find positive impacts of the imposition of the
ban, which is meant to improve the solid waste situation in the city,
similar to the findings of the studies conducted as mentioned in the
literature reviewed.
In compliance with the ordinance, it is expected that supermarkets
and public markets in the city will be using paper bags instead of plastic
bags and that there will be a decrease in the use of plastic bags in public
markets as well as in the supermarkets where the dry goods are no
longer allowed to be carried in plastic bags. Instead, paper bags are to be
9

used for this purpose. Due to this, the consumers are expected to use
plastic bags less frequently and that, since traders in the city will no
longer use plastic bags. Hence, whatever plastic bags the consumers use
might be sourced outside Antipolo, where for example they are given
plastic bags from supermarkets in places where there is no such
ordinance.
As an initial reaction to the ban, it is expected to find a part of the
population still using plastic bags, though less frequently since IEC may
not yet be that thorough, or that some who shop from neighbouring
localities without such a ban would be carrying their goods in plastic
carryout bags. Others will have opted to use reusable bags that are sold
in the markets. Still others will be found no longer using plastic bags since
reusable bags area available and that these consumers might have
agreed that the ban is good so they tend to follow not just the ordinance
but their environmental conscience as well. These preliminary impacts are
expected to cause environmental awareness among the consumer
population such that they will also start to segregate their solid waste at
home since it has already been declared (through RA 9003) that they
must segregate their waste. At this point people will start to realize that
the ban on plastics is another step to better solid waste management.
Hence, most of them might start disposing their plastic bags and other
waste properly. The resulting effect will be a reduction in the volume of
plastic waste in the city. Therefore, it is highly expected that the solid
10

waste situation in the city has been greatly improved. This can be better
expressed in the following diagram, and which was used as framework of
the study:
PLASTIC BAGS WASTE

ORDINANCE BANNING THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS

IMPLEMENTATION

Methods of Implementation (Fines/penalties)

PRELIMINARY IMPACTS

IN PUBLIC
MARKETS

On
Sources
of plastic
bags

CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
1. STILL USE PLASTIC
BAGS
2. NO LONGER USE
PLASTIC BAGS
3. USE OF REUSABLE BAGS

DECREASE IN THE
USE OF PLASTIC
BAGS IN PUBLIC
MARKETS

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS OF CONSUMERS

WASTE SEGREGATION AT HOME and PROPER DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC BAGS AND

OTHER WASTE IN PUBLIC MARKETS
REDUCED PLASTIC WASTE
Figure 1: Framework and Conceptual Diagram of the Study
11

CHAPTER IV :
METHODOLOGY

4.1

Significance of the Survey

Surveys are significant in that they can be used to determine the

beliefs, attitude and behaviours towards prevailing trends, laws, and other
aspects in the community.
The results of the survey present the preliminary evaluation of a
policy (in this case the ban on plastic bags) which will give a glimpse at
how well the implementation is being carried out at the beginning of
implementation.
4.2

Survey Area

Due to time and budgetary constraints, the survey was conducted in

one place, which is the major wet and dry public market along the main
thoroughfare of Antipolo City. Since this is the main public market, this a
one of places where most people come to do their shopping for their daily
needs and is where the ordinance is mostly implemented, also since the
office of the public market administrator holds office in the vicinity.
4.3

Research Design

4.3.1. Data Collection Methodology

12

Gathering of primary data was done through a survey and key

informant

interviews

with

an

actual

ocular

observation

of

the

surroundings. Secondary data, such as monitoring and accomplishment

reports, were gathered from the Environmental Services Office of Antipolo
City. Photo-documentation was conducted as part of the data or evidence
of outcome of the implementation of the legislation. Face-to-face and selfadministered interviews were done with the aid of semi-structured
questionnaires.
4.3.2. Survey Description
An ocular inspection of the streets of the city as well as its
waterways was conducted to present a situational analysis and determine
the prevailing solid waste situation in the city. This was followed by
interviews at the chosen site.
Three groups or sectors will be surveyed for this study. The first
group was the implementers, the second group consisted of the vendors
or shopkeepers, and the third group consisted of the consumers.
Survey was done through either a face-to-face interview as well as
by distributing questionnaires to the selected respondents. A focused
interview was done for the 1st group of respondents. The questionnaires
for the shop-owners were distributed among the market vendors and
retrieved

after

few

hours.

The

accomplishment

rate

of

the

questionnaires was sixty per cent (60%). Some of the vendors were busy
with sales work and did not want to answer the questionnaires while some
13

of them simply did not want to answer the questionnaires and were not
returned.
4.3.3. Statistical Design
A simple random sampling was conducted for interviewing the
shoppers. Sixty (60) samples were taken and interviewed using face-toface survey technique. This was done by randomly selecting shoppers.
Samples were selected at random at certain times of the day. For
example, twenty (20) samples were interviewed in the morning until
12:00 noon, twenty (20) samples were interviewed in the afternoon, and
another twenty (20) samples were interviewed early evening. This was
done to determine whether there is a difference among the shoppers at
certain times of the day.
For the shop-owners, convenience sampling was done since they
were busy with their businesses, such that only those willing to answer
the survey forms were interviewed while the others were given the forms
and retrieved after a few hours. Thirty (30) samples were gathered for
this study.
Key informants were also interviewed for this study in order to
determine the extent of implementation and how such implementation is
conducted within the entire LGU. For this purpose, the City Administrator,
the Public Market Administrator, as well as the head of the Ecological
Waste Management Office were interviewed. This was conducted by

14

visiting their respective offices. Secondary data were also requested from
their offices regarding solid waste as well as the ordinance.

15

CHAPTER V :
FINDINGS

5.1

Description of the Study Area

The survey was conducted within the confines of Antipolo Citys

main public market, which is located two blocks away from the city hall.
The public market is a two-story establishment which houses dry goods
merchandise (clothing, home decors, cooking paraphernalia, trinkets,
etc.) on its second level. The meat and fish section, fresh fruits and
vegetables and all other ingredients for cooking as well as cooked foods
are located on the first floor of the public market.
Located in Bgy. San Roque, it occupies the entire block in the heart
of Antipolo along ML Quezon Street on the west, J. Sumulong Street on
the north, F. Manalo St. on the east, and J. Simeon Street on the south
(see areal views on the next page). The market is filled with people of all
walks of life during the day. It is busiest during the early morning until
12oclock noon and during late afternoon until eight oclock in the
evening. This place was chosen to be the study site for the survey since
many people from various places in Antipolo come here to buy all sorts of
goods and merchandise and that this is the place most likely to be
impacted by the implementation of the ordinance.

16

Figure 2: Areal Map of Antipolo Public Market (Google Earth)

Figure 3: Close up View of Antipolo Public Market (Google Earth).

17

5.2

Results of the survey

The survey yielded two (2) types of data, numerical and categorical
(nominal). For such types of data, a Chi-square (X2) statistic was used
here to compare the variables and to find out whether there exists any
relationship or correlation between these variables. The chi-square is used
to investigate whether distributions of categorical variables differ from
one another3. After Chi-square, a post test statistical method, Cramers V
was calculated to determine the strengths of association between the
variables tested. Cramers V coefficient4 is useful for comparing multiple
X2-test statistics and is generalizable across contingency tables of varying
sizes and is mainly used to calculate associations using nominal data. To
describe the strength of association, Cramers V is described as having
values from 0 to 1 where >0.5 signifies high association while 0 to 0.1
has little or no association. Calculations for these values were done
through

PASW.

The

software

PASW

Statistics

(SPSS

version

18)

(Predictive Analysis Software) is a program that can be used to analyse

data from surveys, tests, observations, and other data gathered. The
software can perform a variety of data analyses and presentation
functions. Features of the software include descriptive statistics such as
frequencies, percentage distribution, t-Test, X2-test among others. This

3
4

http://math.hws.edu/javamath/ryan/ChiSquare.html
http://www.acastat.com/Statbook/chisqassoc.htm

18

software can perform a variety of statistical computations, thus saving

time for the researcher in analysing the data gathered.
5.2.1

Profile of Participants

The Profile of the participants is shown on Table 1 (shop-owners)

and Table 2 (shoppers) with the corresponding frequency and percentage
distribution of characteristics. The ages of the participants were grouped
into two, since the data was not very significant for those younger than
twenty (20) years old.

Table 1 : Profile of Shop-owners Participants in the Survey

Characteristics
Age

<=20-29 years old

30-39
40 and over

Sex

Male
Female
Educational Attainment
High School
College
Weekly income
P1,000-5999
P6,000-9,999
>P10,000
No answer

Frequency

Percentage (%)

3
14
13

10.0
46.7
43.3

7
23

23.3
76.7

12
18

40.0
60.0

18
6
2
4

60.0
20.0
6.7
13.3

N Cases = 30

Thirty (30) shop-owners were interviewed for this study (Table 1),
all owning a stall or stalls inside the public market of Antipolo City. Of the
19

shop-owners who answered the survey forms, 10% were between the
ages of less than twenty (20) years old to twenty-nine (29) years old.
Most of the participants interviewed were within the age range of 30-39
years old (46.7%) while the rest were over 40 years old (about 43.3%).
Most of the thirty (30) participants interviewed were females, about
76.7%; while a smaller percentage, about 23.3%, were males.
More than half of the shop-owners who answered the survey
questionnaires finished college degree (about 60%), while 40% finished
high school/vocational school.
When asked about their weekly income, most of the shop-owners
(60%), stated they earn between P1,000-P5,999 pesos, while some of
them (20%) earn between P6,000-P9,999.00 and only a few (6.7%) earn
a weekly income of more than 10,000 pesos. About 13.3% did not state
their income in the survey questionnaires.
Table 2 below shows the profile of the shoppers interviewed for this
study. From this Table, it can be seen that 21.7% of the shoppers
interviewed were aged less than or equal to 29 years old, while 31.7%
were between 30-39 years old. It can be seen that the majority of
shoppers surveyed were 40 years old and over, comprising 46.7% of the
sample.
Although the participants were chosen at random, more female
shoppers were interviewed (71.7%), while the male shoppers comprise
only 28.3% of the sample. It cannot be concluded here that more females
20

do the shopping than males, however, it can be said that at the time of
sampling, more females arrived than males and thus, they were the ones
mostly interviewed for this purpose.
Table 2 : Profile of Shoppers Participants in the Survey

Characteristics

Frequency

Percentage (%)

13
19
28

21.7
31.7
46.7

17
43

28.3
71.7

8
34
18

13.3
56.6
30.0

16
20
24

26.7
33.3
40.0

3
1
10
10
24
4
7
1

5.0
1.7
16.7
16.7
40.0
6.7
11.7
1.7

Age
<=29
30-39
>=40
Sex
Male
Female
Educational Attainment
Elementary
High School/Voc
College
Monthly Family Income
<4,999
5,000-9,999
>=P10,000
Occupation
Student
Govt Employee
Private Employee
Self-employed
Homemaker
Labourer
Others
No answer
N Cases = 60

When asked about their educational attainment, 56.6% of the

sample said they finished high school and/or vocational courses while
about 30% finished a college degree and only 13.3% of the respondents
finished elementary school.
21

Forty per cent (40%) of the sample belong to families earning an

income of more than Php10,000; 33.3% have a monthly family income of
PhP 5,000-PhP 9,999.00. About 26.7% said they earn a monthly income
of less than Php 4,999.00.
The cases belong to a diverse group of occupation wherein 40% are
mostly homemakers; 16.7% for both private employees and selfemployed/business

owners;

5%

are

students,

1.7%

works

in

government institution; 6.7% are labourers, while 11.7% are either

retired or work someplace else. Around 1.7% of the sample did not
specify their employment status.
5.2.2

Knowledge and Awareness

The respondents were primarily asked whether they were aware of

the ordinance banning/regulating the use of plastic carryout bags,
whether they fully understood the reason for such and if they were
satisfied with the implementation of such a policy.
Although all (100%) respondents interviewed were aware of the
ordinance, only 58 or 96.7% of the shoppers and 93.3% of the shopowners said that they understood the reason for regulating/banning the
use of plastic carryout bags and some 3.3% among both the shoppers
and the shop-owners said that they did not understand the reason for
such a regulation. Also, 86.7% of the shoppers and 89.7% of the shopowners were satisfied with the ordinance, while 13.3% were not satisfied
with the said ordinance. When asked whether they understood the
22

advantages of not using plastic bags, a majority (96.7%) of both the

shoppers and the shop-owners replied positively, while 3.3% were
negative about it.
The Table below shows the frequency and percentage of the
responses to the questions given.
Table 3 : Awareness, Understanding and Satisfaction with the Ordinance
Frequency
Shoppers

Shopowners

Shoppers

Shopowners

Yes

60

30

100%

100%

No

Yes

58

28

96.7%

93.3%

No

3.3%

3.3%

Yes

52

26

86.7%

89.7%

No

13.3%

10.3%

Yes

58

29

96.7%

96.7%

No

3.3%

3.3%

Variables
1. Awareness
ordinance

of

the

2. Understand
the
reason
for
regulating/banning
the use of plastic
bags
3. Satisfied with
ordinance?

the

4. Understand
the
advantage of using
reusable bags

Percentage

Public information campaign regarding the plastic bags ordinance

has been going on in the city, as shown by posters hanging in public
places such as the one shown below, explaining the high level of
awareness of the people regarding the policy. Also, letters notifying the

23

business owners regarding the ordinance have been distributed all over
the city5.

Figure 4: Campaign Posters Displayed in Public

Places in Antipolo City

5.2.3

Attitudes/Behaviour towards the Ban

In trying to determine the peoples attitudes or behavioural

responses towards the ban, the shoppers were asked whether they bring
their own reusable bag nowadays, their opinions on buying reusable bag
for shopping, choices of carryout bags, their opinions on what type of bag
should be used for shopping in the marketplace, as well as whether they

Per interview with some business owners who are far from the city center

24

wish to change the ordinance and add a P5.00 levy for using plastic bags
or whether they prefer the current ordinance which bans the use of plastic
bags for all dry goods purchases and limits such use for wet goods
purchases. The responses are shown on the following figures below:

Figure 5: Responses on Bringing Reusable Bags to Shopping

The figure above shows that 96.7% of the respondents bring their
own reusable bag nowadays when shopping, while only a few (3.3%)
never bring their own reusable bags. When asked why, the only reason
they gave was that they always forget to bring reusable bags with them
when they go shopping.
25

Figure 6: Preferrence for Current Ordinance and Willingness

of Shoppers to Buy Ecobags or Reusable Bags
This chart above shows that a majority of the respondents (98.3%)
were willing to buy reusable bags and chose the current ordinance over
an amended ordinance which would allow the use of plastic bags but with
a levy of five pesos (Php5.00) for every plastic bag that will be used.
When ask for the choice of carryout container they prefer to use, most of
the respondents said that they prefer using reusable bag as carryout
container (as shown in the figure below) because for them, reusable bags
are sturdy, convenient and comfortable to use, can be washed and used
again many times over, and can contain more goods compared to other
carryout bags/containers, which are disposable. They also said that they
preferred using reusable bags now than plastic bags in order to help in
26

the protection of the environment as well as help in the prevention of

clogging the waterways and lessen the littering of waste on the streets.
The responses above only showed that a majority of the shoppers
interviewed were willing to compromise against using the free plastic
carryout bags for the sake of helping the campaign for cleanliness and
environmental protection. This awareness and willingness to cooperate
with this new environmental policy is a positive indication that most
people nowadays are environmentally aware and socially conscious of
what is happening to the environment and can understand that such
policies are part of the measures aimed at protecting the environment.

Figure 7: Response on Preference to Reusable Bag Over

Disposable Containers/Bags

The shoppers were also asked for their opinions regarding buying
reusable bags for their groceries. Most of them (65%) said that buying
27

reusable bags is all right with them because they can contribute to
environmental protection (See Table 4 below). About 25% said that it was
fine with them as long as they could carry the things they bought, while a
few of them (10%) said they were annoyed because of the extra
expenses.
Table 4 : Shoppers Comments on Buying their Own Reusable Bags
Comment

Frequency

Percent (%)

Annoying, because of additional expenses

10.0

Okay, as long as I can carry my groceries

15

25.0

Okay, because I can contribute to

environmental protection

39

65.0

Total

60

100.0

The shop-owners were also asked about their opinions regarding

the ordinance. Approximately 43.4% said they should be banned in order
to reduce waste and because paper bags are better since they are
biodegradable. On the other hand, 43.4% said they should not be banned
because the use of plastic bags could help save the trees and that plastic
bags are better for packaging wet merchandise. Most of those who did not
favour the ban were from the wet goods section of the market. They also
complained that they were the ones who receive the ire of customers who
were not used to bringing reusable bags. Around 13.3% of those
interviewed did not answer the question. The Table below shows the
frequencies and percentages of answers given. The percentages of those
who favoured the banning for various reasons as well as those who did
28

not favour the ban are listed separately to show the precise reason given
by the respondents.
Table 5 : Shop-owners Opinions Regarding the Banning of Plastic Bags
Opinions on why plastic bags should or
should not be banned

Frequency

Percentage (%)

Plastic bags should not be banned because

they are good for wet merchandise such as
fish or meat

11

36.7

Plastic bags should not be banned in order

to save the trees

6.7

Plastic bags should be banned and paper

bags used instead because they are
biodegradable

11

36.7

Plastic bags should be banned to reduce

waste

6.7

No answer

13.3

30

100.0

Total

5.2.4

Practices

In order to determine the shoppers and shop-owners practices in

the use of plastic bags in the light of the ordinance, the following
responses (Table 6) were gathered from the respondents. It should be
noted that the ordinance regulates the use of plastic bags in the wet
goods section and not banned so that those who responded yes to the
question were those who were selling wet goods such as fish, chicken, or
meat. However, those selling wet goods use only a certain type of plastic
bag, called labo a thin, single use cellophane, which is quite disposable.
Double bagging is no longer allowed though, and even if their consumers
29

grumble and demand for plastic bags, they were afraid to pay the penalty
(which is PhP500.00 for the first offense, PhP800.00 for the second time
and revoking of license to sell on the third time of violation).
Table 6 : Frequency and Percentage of Shoppers and Shop-owners Still
Using Plastic Bags
Still use plastic
bags

Shop-owners

Yes

Frequency
17

Percentage
56.7

No

11

36.7

6.7

No answer
Sometimes
Total

30

100.0

Shoppers
Frequency Percentage
15
25.0
24

40

21

35

60

100.0

It was also found that other sellers in the dry goods area use plastic
bags as courtesy to the customers who do not have shopping bags with
them for the convenience of carrying the goods bought. When asked why
they still use such despite the ban, the reason given was that it is only
banned when caught and that the customer needs to have the goods
packaged in a sturdy carryout container. From Table 8 above, it can be
seen that more shoppers no longer use plastic bags as carryout container
when shopping because they want to cooperate with the government
policy and that they did not want to get caught and pay the penalty. The
same reasons were given by the vendors who are no longer using plastic
carryout bags.
30

When

the

vendors/shop-owners

were

asked

whether

their

clients/shoppers were reduced after the implementation of the ordinance,

some of them responded in the positive as shown in Table 7 below.
Table 7 : Responses of Shop-owners to Whether Customers were
Reduced after the Implementation of the Ordinance
Shoppers reduced after
implementation of the ordinance

Frequency

Percent (%)

Yes

20.0

No

24

80.0

Total

30

100.0

Table

above

shows

that

some

20%

of

the

shop-owners

interviewed said that their customers were reduced after implementation

of the ban because they no longer use plastic bags and since their
customers have no carryout containers, they just leave upon learning that
the vendors cannot provide them with a decent packaging6. According to
the vendors interviewed, this caused so much frustration to them plus
additional activity of making paper bags. They further explained that
before the implementation of the ordinance, they used to just buy plastic
carryout bags. But after the ban was implemented, what they buy
nowadays are scotch tapes or tubes of paste to make the paper bags
because they do not want to buy the brown paper bags since those are
more expensive and there are not enough supply available.

Dry goods vendors make paper bags out of old newspapers or telephone directories and discarded
magazines.

31

With regards to cleanliness, more shop-owners think that solid

waste in the city were reduced after the implementation of the ordinance
(70%), as opposed to just 40% of shoppers who think that garbage has
been reduced. Most of the respondents (48.3%) believed that garbage
was somewhat or just a bit reduced as shown in the following Table:
Table

Responses on the Reduction of Littering

Implementation of the Ban on Plastic Bags

Trash reduced

Shoppers

after

the

Shop-owners

Frequency

Percent (%)

Frequency

Percent (%)

Yes

24

40.0

21

70.0

No

11.7

30.00

Somewhat/a bit

29

48.3

Total

60

100.0

30

100.0

Inspection of the vicinity of the public market showed that the

streets have indeed been maintained and free from littering, which
indicates an intensive campaign against the use of plastic bags as well as
tougher implementation, imposing penalties to those who violate the
ordinance as shown in the figure below:

32

Figure 8: Clean Street in Antipolo City

5.2.5

Waste Segregation Practices

Waste segregation practices, although has little to do with the

banning of plastic bags, is also a way of finding out the solid waste
practices of people to see how well they are aware of other environmental
policies and can therefore determine levels of environmental awareness
among the citizenry. RA 9003 mandates that waste must be segregated
at source. People who practice waste segregation at home are more
environmentally aware or more aware of existing environmental policies
than those who do not and are willing to cooperate in urban waste
management interventions of the government, such as the banning of
plastic bags.
With the current implementation of the policy banning the use of
plastic bags, it is possible that such a policy has awakened some level of
33

awareness among the people in terms of other environmental policies.

This can be seen by the way they manage their solid waste. The Figure
below shows the percentage of respondents who are segregating their
garbage.

Figure 9: Response on the Segregation of Garbage Indicating a

Good Level of Awareness in Urban Environment
Management

Figure 10: Shop-owners Practice of Waste Segregation at Home

34

The figures above show that close to over 70% of respondents

segregate their garbage at home. Various reasons were given, such as,
segregation has become a habit; to separate biodegradable (which emit
bad odour) from non-biodegradable; to keep from littering waste into the
waterways; to help in environmental protection; and to obey the law to
avoid penalties. They also reported that segregated waste were placed in
various types of containers such as plastic bags, jute sacks, broken pails,
garbage drums or barrels, etc.
5.2.6

Statistical Analysis

The results of the survey on the shoppers were subjected to Chisquare analysis, since this group had a bigger sample size than the shopowners. For the survey on shop-owners, only the frequencies and
percentage were considered since the sample size was too small for
statistical treatment using a chi-square analysis. To further test the Chisquare values, Cramers V was also used for nominal values to determine
the generalizability of the samples. The demographical data were
compared with the data on the choice of carryout containers and with
regards to the satisfaction with ordinance.
Table 9 below shows the percentage of respondents who use
reusable containers when shopping as against those who use disposable
containers when shopping. It was found that 92.3% of the respondents
within the age range 29 years and below favoured using reusable bag
while only 7.7% favoured the use of disposable containers. About 78.9%
35

of those respondents aged 30-39 years old favoured the use of reusable
containers, and only 21.1% among the respondents aged 30-39 years old
favoured using disposable containers for shopping. Among those aged 40
years old and over, 85.7% favoured the use of reusable containers for
shopping, while only 14.3% favoured the use of disposable carryout
containers. From this Table, it can be seen that there is a high percentage
of those who favoured using reusable carryout containers/bags across age
groups, signifying that age had nothing to do with choosing the type of
container. To further test this, Cramers V, which is used to test for the
generalizability of the sample within a population, was run in order to
check whether there was any relationship. As it turned out, a Cramers V
equal to 0.136 indicates a weak relationship between the variables within
the samples. Similarly, a value of p = 0.576 means that there was no
sufficient data/evidence to generalize this result within the population.
Table 9 : Age Group vs. Choice of Carryout Container

Age group
<=29
30-39
>=40
Approx. Sig. (p<.05)
Cramers V
N cases = 60

Choice of Carryout
Containers
Disposable
Reusable
7.7%
92.3%
21.1%
78.9%
14.3%
85.7%
0.576
0.136

Total
13
19
28

To check whether age is a determining factor for satisfaction with

the ban on plastic bags, a cross tabulation was done for age against the
36

responses on the satisfaction with the ordinances. Shown in Table below

are the percentages of positive responses against negative responses
across age groups.
Table 10 : Age Group vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance
Age group

Satisfied with ordinance

Yes

No

Total

<=29

84.6%

15.4%

100%

30-39

94.7%

5.3%

100%

>=40

82.1%

17.9%

100%

Approx. Sig. (p<.05)

.446

Cramers V

.164

N cases = 60

From the table above, it can be said that there was a very high
percentage of those who were satisfied with the ordinance banning the
use of plastic bags compared to those who were not satisfied. Checking
for correlation using age groups to determine the variability of yes
answers among the age groups, the results generated for the age vs.
satisfaction with ordinance indicated that there was no correlation
between these two variables within the sample and that it could not be
generalized for the entire population.
Similarly, in trying to establish the relationship between the
educational attainment and choice of carryout containers, it was found
that there was a high percentage of respondents who would rather use
reusable containers than disposable ones, across all categories of
educational attainment as can be seen in Table 11 below:
37

Table 11 : Educational Attainment vs. Choice of Carryout container

Educational
Attainment
Elementary
High School/Voc
College
Approx. Sig.
(p<.05)
Cramers V
N cases = 60

Choice of Carryout
Container
Disposable
Reusable
12.5%
87.5%
8.8%
91.2%
27.8%
72.2%
0.070

Total
100.00%
100.0%
100.0%

0.234

Based on the results above, a value of p = 0.070 indicated that

there was a an very low correlation between the variables within the
sample but because of its closeness to p<0.05 there might be some
correlation if there were enough samples for the generated data although
within the study, there was not enough evidence to say that it could be
generalized within the entire population as shown by the Cramers V
value.
Table 12 : Educational Attainment vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance

Educational
attainment
Elementary

Satisfied with Ordinance

Yes
No
75%
25.0%

High School/Voc

85.3%

College
Approx. Sig. (p<.05)

94.4%

Cramers V

14.7%
5.6%
0.379

Total
100%
100%
100%

0.180

N cases = 60

38

It can be said from the data gathered that education has nothing to
do with the satisfaction/dissatisfaction of the respondents regarding the
policy implemented. At any educational category, they can be satisfied
when they perceive that the policy is doing good for the environment as
well as to the behaviour of the people. Naturally, as can be seen from
Table 12, not everyone will be pleased with such a policy and will always
resist change, such that some of the shoppers interviewed said that they
were not satisfied with the ordinance banning the use of plastic disposable
bags, because for them, plastic bags offer the most convenient way to
carry the goods they purchased.
Table 13 : Income Category vs. Choice of Carryout Container

Monthly Family Income

Choice of Carryout Container

<PhP 4,999.00
PhP 5,000.00 PhP 9,999.00
>= PhP10,000.00

Total

Disposable

Reusable

18.8%

81.3%

100%

5.0%

95.0%

100%

20.8%

79.2%

100%

Approx. Sig. (p<.05)

0.303

Cramers V

0.199

N cases = 60

Table 13 above shows that income has nothing to do with the

choice

of

carry

out

container.

Across

the

income

groups,

more

respondents preferred the reusable type of carryout container than the

disposable ones. Further relating these variables, it can be said that there
39

is no significant relationship between the income and the choice of

carryout bags.
Table 14 below also shows that the satisfaction of the respondents
is not related to their income since across all income groups, a high
percentage of the sample is satisfied with the ordinance than being
dissatisfied further proving that basic understanding of such an ordinance
and being satisfied at its implementation has nothing to do with their
social or financial status in life.
Table 14 : Monthly Family Income vs. Satisfaction with Ordinance
Monthly Family
Income

Satisfaction with the Ordinance

Total

Yes

No

<PhP 4,999

81.3%

18.8%

100.0%

PhP 5,000-9,999

90.0%

10.0%

100.0%

>=PhP 10,000

87.5%

12.5%

100.0%

Approx. Sig p<.05

0.736

Cramers V

0.101

N cases = 60

40

CHAPTER VI :
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study was able to provide a birds eye view of the preliminary
effects of the ordinance as well as gain some knowledge on how those
who were interviewed felt about it.
The data from the survey was able to prove the hypothesis of the
study, which found a positive impact of the ban on the solid waste
situation of the city as well as the attitude and behaviour of the
constituency as proven by the high percentage of those who favour the
ordinance and the bringing of their own reusable bags when shopping.
In this study, it was found that, nowadays, vendors/shop-owners in
the dry goods section no longer use plastic bags (except for a few which
try to sneak-in plastic bags at the behest of some consumers, just to
please them), and use paper packaging instead. These paper packaging
are in the form of recycled materials such as old newspapers, magazines
and phone directories and made into paper bags because the shopowners/vendors find the brown paper bags more expensive. This clearly
shows how people can be creative in order to comply with the policy.
Although there is no baseline data to determine the volume of reduction
in plastic bags waste, the reduction of plastic bags littering the streets has
definitely been achieved. Also, since the people have become aware that
the plastic bags ordinance was implemented to curb the waste littering,
41

they have also become aware of the ill-effects of improperly disposed

plastic bags on the environment as a whole and perceive that the
ordinance is good at preventing the littering of plastic waste. This reveals
the changing attitudes of the people towards their environment in that
their awareness has been heightened regarding the use of materials that
end up as waste that affect the waterways.
It should be remembered that the primary reason for the move to
ban plastic bags is that oftentimes they end up on the streets which are
carried into drainage canals when it rains. However, in Antipolo, it was
found out that only the use of plastic sando bags was banned but not
the single use thin film plastic they called "labo", which are easily
discarded, unlike the plastic carry-on bags that are oftentimes reused.
This would lead to the question of where these plastic bags go afterwards.
Although the littering of plastic bags seemed to have decreased,
some shop-owners/vendors have reported that it was only replaced by
paper waste since paper bags are being used instead of plastic bags. The
banning of plastic bags seemed to be a solution to this waste littering
problem since the government seems to have been ineffective in
implementing the provisions of RA 9003, or management of solid waste.
In order to prevent the littering of plastic bags waste, these should,
therefore be taken out of the market. Although this ordinance offers a
practical solution to the plastic bags waste problem, this would perhaps
be effective only in the short term. What would be more effective is the
42

implementation of the solid waste management policy and discipline of

the populace in order to create a long term solution to the problem, which
does not only constitute plastic bags but other waste as well. If
behavioural changes will occur, such that people will learn to manage
their solid waste, and that infrastructure would be available, we will be
closer to solving the garbage woes.
As seen from the study, the strict implementation of the ordinance
to ban/regulate plastic bags use was able to reduce the plastic bags
waste. However, proper waste management is still the best way to
contain all waste so they do not end up where they are not supposed to
be. According to the result of this study, any law that is strictly
implemented is effective. Although many consumers still long for that
lightweight convenient carry-on plastic bag, they now realize that the
rampant use of such has been among the culprits in the clogging of
waterways and causing so much litter on the streets. Although they still
grumble as to the use of recycled newspapers for packaging and
buying/bringing their own reusable carry-on bags/containers, the seeds of
awareness have already been planted and are starting to grow.
In order to properly resolve the problem on plastic bags waste,
there has to be a thorough deliberation as to which plastic bags must be
banned since reusable plastic bags can provide a solution too.

43

While it is true that plastic bags waste can clog waterways because
they are non-biodegradable, other solid waste can do the same. And
using paper put a huge demand on our trees and water supply. It is
clearly

not

the

best

solution.

To

put

it

simply,

with

the

strict

implementation of the ordinance, the people are catching on. Perhaps, if

RA 9003 is strictly implemented and violators are penalized, then the
problems on solid waste will finally be contained.
The study was under severe limitations due to time and budgetary
constraints such that it was not possible to include the entire area of
Antipolo City. For this reason, only a small sample was included in the
survey, which covered only those in the market such that the study
cannot be conclusive of the situation of the entire city especially those in
the barangays that are far from the city center.
In order to be able to have a clear picture of the real impacts of the
ordinance and the effects this has on the solid waste situation in the city,
it is recommended that this study be continued one year later. Also, at
this stage, the volume of solid waste, especially of plastic waste must be
properly recorded to form as baseline data for reference. A plastic waste
recovery centre must be set up at strategic areas of the city and that the
garbage collectors must be instructed to separate plastic bags waste upon
collection.

44

Although economic impacts is not part of this study, the ordinance

clearly has a big impact on the polyethylene industry, from the
manufacturer to the retailers. The ordinance did not seem to have
considered the economic impacts it would have on other vendors since
the suppliers of plastic bags have been hard hit by this ordinance. For
example, the supplier of plastic bags in the market complained of a 50%
reduction in sales and recently penalized (Php500 pesos) for using a
plastic sando bag to package the thin plastic bags bought by a wet
goods vendor who demanded plastic packaging. A study on the economic
impacts of the ban should be conducted in the future.
This study also needs a better statistical design so that responses to
the survey will not be biased in order to reflect the real situation.
Although larger sample can be better, it may be better if the profile of the
community can be adequately represented. This survey can then be used
as fore-runner of succeeding surveys which can be done in the future.
It can be said that although the LGUs leadership has been trying
hard to make the campaign against the widespread use of plastic bags,
there are some products that require plastic bags for packaging to protect
the products. An Executive Order (E.O.) was therefore released by the
Office of the Mayor to provide some exceptions to the ban. Unfortunately,
this has not been communicated properly to the shop-owners/vendors. As
a result, they have not realized that they can apply for such an exemption
if their reasons are justified.
45

In order to effectively implement the policy, a massive and

continuous Information and Education Campaign (IEC) is necessary for
the people to better understand the importance of the ordinance. The
policy, if carried out effectively, would have a potential impact on raising
further

the

level of awareness of the

citizens in

protecting the

environment. This is important in changing peoples behaviour for the

better and promises long term effects in environmental management.

46

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2006-9820 2011 Academic Journals. Available online at http://www.
academicjournals.org/JTEHS Accessed Dec. 3, 2011.
Begum I, Zareena. (Undated). Plastics and the Environment.
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(Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India), Madras School of Economics. Available online at http://coe.
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materials, using latent class analysis: the case of Tianjin, China.
International Food and Agribusiness management Review, Vol. 12 Issue
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/20091006_Formatted.pdf. Accessed on Dec. 4, 2011.
Dikgang, J and M. Visser. (2010). Behavioral Response to Plastic
Bag Legislation in Botswana. Environment for Development discussion
paper series May 2010 EfD DP 10-13. Available online at
http://www.rff.org/rff/documents/EfD-DP-10-13.pdf Accessed Dec. 7,
2011.
Xiufeng Xing. (2009). Study on the ban on free plastic bags in
China. Journal of Sustainable Development. Vol. 2. No. 1 pp. 156-158.
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2011.

47

AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY
Ms. Grace Penaflor Sapuay graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree (major in Marine Science) at the University of the Philippines
(Diliman) in 1983. She finished her Master of Science degree in Fisheries
major in Fishery Biology at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas
in 1987. In 1988 she was granted a Monbusho Scholarship by the
Japanese Governments Ministry of Education (Monbusho) and pursued a
Masters Degree in Fisheries specializing in fishery resources from
Kagoshima University, Kagoshima City, Japan.
Ms. Sapuay has been working as a freelance consultant in various
fields such as environmental management, solid waste management,
coastal resources management, coastal planning and other projects
requiring her expertise as a fishery and marine biologist, solid waste
management and environment specialist.
She is an avid advocate for environmental protection. After one of
her stints doing projects on solid waste management in 2004, which took
her to many places all over the Philippines, she saw the need to educate
the children and youth on environmental protection. Thus, she founded
the Kalipunan ng mga Kabataan para sa Kalikasan (KALIKASAN) in order
to help raise the awareness of children and youth on various
environmental issues affecting the country and the world. She also
started participating in international conferences on environment, taking
with her children, and all founding members of Kalikasan in order to train
them as future environmental leaders and enable them to participate in
areas concerning environmental management outside the country. As a
result, she has been invited to many activities, either as a speaker or
participant and guest at meetings and discussions concerning
environmental management.
Currently, Ms. Sapuay is enrolled at the UP School of Urban and
Regional Planning (Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning). She is a
member of the Board of Directors of the Solid Waste Management
Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) where she holds the position of
Vice-President for Luzon. She is also a member of the UP Planning and
Development Foundation (UP PLANADES); the Philippine Institute of
Environmental Planners (PIEP), and currently secretary of the Philippine
Association of Japanese Government Scholars (PHILAJAMES). She
continues to do her work on environmental advocacy and dreams of
being able to hold a National Childrens Congress on Environment
sometime.

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