CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Plastic bags are one of the most common items in everyday life. They are at the

heart of a fight raging in municipalities world-wide. Many cities around the globe have

already banned the ubiquitous bags from stores, and activists are pushing for bans

elsewhere. These activists argue that cities must spend vast sums to clean up the bags

and the litter caused by them, money that is better spent elsewhere. Not to mention that

plastic bags are blight on the environment, polluting waterways and other natural areas

and killing off animals (Bentley West Management Consultants, 2014).

In South Cotabato, specifically in Koronadal City, an action prohibiting the usage

of plastic packaging was implemented for the citizens of the area. Koronadal City

prohibits the use of plastic bags every Saturday by virtue of Ordinance No. 05 series of

2016. The “no plastic, no styro” policy was imposed to promote a “plastic-free lifestyle”

among its workforce and eventually reduce the non-biodegradable wastes accumulated

by the local government’s offices and operations. The city intends to later expand the

coverage of such policy to the city’s main and satellite public markets, local

government-owned facilities, transport terminals, various public areas, local

communities and households. With this ordinance, the usage of plastic packaging can

be reduced and can ultimately lessen the toxic waste that plastic packaging leave

behind once thrown away.

issued by the Municipality of Polomolok on July 10, 2014. This ordinance prohibits the

use of plastic carry-out bags on dry goods and regulating its use on wet goods, and

regulating the use of styrofoam in the Municipality of Polomolok, Province of South

Cotabato and prescribing penalties thereof”.

This ordinance seeks to change consumer behavior. Its core motives towards

shifting habits from mindless consumption to a lifestyle that is anchored on the 3 R’s of

Waste Management implies the proper use of packaging materials on dry and wet

goods. It seeks to regulate the generation of waste from plastic bags by creating an

economic option for consumers to use reusable carry bags or redeem used plastic bags

for new plastic bags.

This study aims to analyze the effects of the regulation of the Municipality of

Polomolok on the use of certain packaging materials. With the success rate of its

economy, businesses will start growing and pollution will dominate the area, in the

hopes of preventing this from happening,

This study will be able to assess the awareness level of General Ordinance No.

17 in the Municipality of Polomolok. Once the ordinance reaches full effectivity, new

opportunities will begin to emerge for entrepreneurs affecting the economy, and a

cleaner and safer environment will be created for the people.

This study will analyze the effects of General Ordinance No. 17, also known as

“The Anti-Plastic Bag Ordinance” of the Municipality of Polomolok on the usage of

plastic packaging materials in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Specifically, it aims to:

1. Evaluate the effect of the ordinance on the socioeconomic sectors of the

society;

A. Business

B. Household

2. Evaluate the awareness level of the respondents from the different

socioeconomic sectors on the ordinance according to;

A. Age

B. Sex

C. Educational Attainment

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the ordinance

Scope and Delimitation

The study will analyze the effects of the ordinance on the usage of plastic

packaging materials in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Surveys and questionnaires will be

given to the respondents from different sectors specified in this study. Furthermore, the

respondents will be categorized according to their demographic profile; age, sex and
educational attainment. Moreover, this study will evaluate the awareness level of the

different sectors and the effectiveness of the implementation of the ordinance.

The data will be gathered in Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato from

September to November 2017. There will be ten respondents from each sector totaling

to forty respondents in the study.

Significance of the Study

To the national government, this study will serve as a baseline for the policy-

making process which concerns the environment, thus they may regulate the use of

plastic across the nation.

To the businessmen, this study will provide them information on the compliance

requirements mandated by the government. It will help them in the decision-making

process on the packaging materials to be used on their products.

To the mayor of Polomolok, this study will help her asses the effectiveness of

the measures taken to implement the ordinance and make improvements to the

implementation process.

To the residents of the community, this study can raise awareness on the

compliance requirements of the ordinance. They will be conscious enough on the

regulations set by the government so they will have the initiative to use biodegradable

bags when they buy products from the business sectors of community.
Definition of Terms

Alternative Packaging Materials – Conceptually, this refers to recyclable,

reusable and/or biodegradable packaging materials that are used in containing,

carrying, holding and/or transporting goods or products as an alternative for plastic bag

(Sangguniang Panglungsod, 2017). Operationally, this refers to the preferred packaging

materials; cloth, cartons, recyclable bags, etc. for the business sectors of the

community.

Awareness level- Conceptually, this refers to the state of knowing something

(Merriam-Webster, 2017). Operationally, this refers to how the respondents follow rules

as stipulated on General Ordinance No. 17, known as “The Anti-Plastic Bag Ordinance”

in the Municipality of Polomolok.

Biodegradable Plastic Bags – Conceptually, this refers to “a plastic bag that

degrades into fine wettable fragments through oxidation processes and thereafter

attains molecular structure suited for biodegradation that results from the action of the

naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and algae. Such plastic

bags shall, within twenty-four (24) months after its use, have a sixty percent (60%)

biodegradation where organic carbon is converted to carbon dioxide without leaving

significant harmful residues.” (Future Energia, 2016) Operationally, this refers to the

preferred biodegradable bags by the government to the citizens of Polomolok, South

Cotabato.

Cloth Bag– Conceptually, this refers to a reusable packaging material made of

cloth (biodegradable) used in the packaging of flour, wheat and other similar goods
(Team Planet Green, 2017). Operationally, this refers to one of the preferred basket-like

cases, also known as “katsa” for the residents of Polomolok.

(Please see Appendix 1 for the photograph of Katsa. )

Dry Goods – Conceptually, this refers to any product that do not require

refrigeration nor freezing to maintain, such as clothing, cosmetic products, canned

goods and other grocery items, fruits and vegetables (Sangguniang Panglungsod,

2017). Operationally, this refers to the products, such as flour, rice, salt, etc. sold by the

business sectors of the community that do not require freezing before being sold to the

public.

Effectiveness- Conceptually, this is the degree to which objectives are achieved

and the extent to which targeted problems are solved (Business Dictionary, 2017).

Operationally, this refers to the success rate of the ordinance set by the local

government of the Municipality of Polomolok also known as “The Anti-Plastic Bag

Ordinance”.

Ordinance- Conceptually, an ordinance is a law passed by the municipal

government. A municipality, such as a town, village or borough, is a political subdivision

of a state within which a municipal corporation has been established to provide local

government to a population in a defined area (Farlex, 2017) Operationally, this refers to

General Ordinance No. 17 otherwise known as “The Anti-Plastic Bag Ordinance”which

prohibits the use of plastic carry-out bags on dry goods and regulating its use on wet

goods, and regulating the use of styrofoam in the Municipality of Polomolok.

packaging of a medicinal product, excluding any outer packaging used for transportation

or shipment. Packaging materials are referred to as primary or secondary according to

whether or not they are intended to be in direct contact with the product. Examples of

this are cardboards, composition board, wood shavings and plastic (European

Commission, 2017). Operationally, it refers to the packaging materials present in stores,

restaurants and other business establishments such as styrofoam and dry plastic.

Plastic is a commonly used packaging material in the Municipality of Polomolok.

Socioeconomic- Conceptually, this is the field of study that examines social and

economic factors to better understand how the combination of both influences

something (Business Dictionary, 2017). Operationally, this refers to the field of study

dealt with in the research which assesses the effects of General Ordinance No. 17 on

the socioeconomic sectors; business, household, education, government officials.

General Ordinance No. 17

Effects

Sectors of the Community

Business Household
Conceptual Framework Discussion

The conceptual framework embarks on General Ordinance No. 17 also known as

the “Anti-Plastic Bag Ordinance” which was implemented on July 2016 by the local

government of the Municipality of Polomolok. Since this research is a socioeconomic

impact study, this evaluates the effects of this ordinance towards the citizens of

Polomolok, South Cotabato. The sectors involved in the study will be evaluated and

analyzed according to their awareness level of the said ordinance. The two sectors to

be studied in the community are the business sector and the household sector. The

business sector will be composed of the entrepreneurs of the different kinds of

businesses in Polomolok such as merchandise and service businesses. The household

sector will be composed of the residents in the area such as the housewives and the

housekeepers.