IMPLEMENTATION OF PLASTIC BAN: ASSESSMENT OF ITS

EFFECTIVENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN

BAYAMBANG, PANGASINAN

A Qualitative Research
Presented to
the Faculty of the Senior High School
Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus
Bayambang, Pangasinan

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
11 - STEM

Jean Joyce D. Magallones

Nadine Princess L. Queyquep
Eric Francis S. Cabanayan
Yna Lynne P. Frias
Zharina Ruth B. Oficial
Jewel A. Capudoy

2019

0
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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Rationale

Plastic has many valuable uses, it is one of the most widely used substances when

it comes to production of containers, bags and various other things. Benefits of plastics

are unmatched by any other material, says the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).

Plastic is an incredibly useful material, but it is also made from toxic compounds known

to cause illness, and because it is meant for durability, it is not biodegradable. Due to

both an increase in consumerism and an increase in the number of plastics used to

manufacture the things we use on a daily basis, plastic pollution became a serious

problem that is growing exponentially. However, concerns about usage and disposal are

diverse (https://www.aeonforocean.org/csplastic.html).

Several local government units implemented the plastic ban in their municipalities

since environmentalists are blaming the uncontrollable use of plastics. The plastic

manufacturing companies and its unions disagree with its implementation because of

their own concerns. However, they were not able to stop it; instead more local

communities..and..municipalities..are..encouraged..to..do..the..said..banning

(https://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqrglobal2010070000).

According to Tantiangco (2018) the status report on the plastic waste

management, about 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced every year and that is

nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. A study in 2015 shows

that about half of all the plastic waste in the ocean comes from just five countries: China,
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Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP) on World Environment Day 2018 rallied support for their

#BeatPlasticPollution movement. The United Nations Report commended that local ban

of,plastics,should.be,enforced.in/certain/areas.(https://www.unenvironment.org/interactiv

e/beat-plastic-pollution/).

Bans or fees are placed in many countries because of the problems associated with

plastic bags. Countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Ireland and Austria, and cities such as New

York in the United States have already implemented laws regarding banning the use of

single-use plastics while the Asian region, China and Thailand also come up with

reduction,legislation.(https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/plastic-bag-bans-

worldwide/). According to United Nations Environment (2018), an agency of the United

Nations, increasingly aware of the scope of plastic pollution, governments in more than

sixty (60) countries have introduced levies and bans to combat single-use plastic waste.

Governments come up with various ways in minimizing the use of plastic bags in

their respective nations. Some of the policies introduced to control the use of plastic bags

includes total ban, increasing taxes, and encouraging citizens to discard the use of plastic

bags through environmental campaigns.

In response to the problem, the national government has adopted measure and has

taken steps. Senate Bill 1948, otherwise known as the "Single-Use Plastics Regulation

and Management Act of 2018", was enacted to ensure the protection of the public health

and environment, single-use plastics will be phase out in the country by prohibiting

importation and use in food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers. Consumers
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shall be encouraged to use reusable materials. With the provisions of the Republic Act

No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act all single-use plastics shall be

collected,,recycled,and.properly,disposed,(https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/284092475

3!.pdf).

In the cities, plastics commonly cause blockages in the drainage systems and

sewerages leading to flooding and severe impacts of severe rainfall and typhoons.

Burning of plastics, given the toxic chemical content in emissions has unfavorable

impacts to the environment, as well as human health.

According to Bayambang Municipal Chief of Staff and Legal Officer, Raymundo

Bautista Jr, proper waste manage disposal should be observed in the town. At present, the

Municipality of Bayambang is producing ten tons of garbage every week and paying the

Urdaneta City government for the use of engineered sanitary landfill to dump the wastes.

In its desire to protect the environment, the Local Government Unit(LGU) of

Bayambang thru the Sagguniang Bayan (SB) passed an Ordinance “Regulating the use of

plastic cellophane and sando bags as packaging materials and utilization of polystyrene,

commonly known as styrofoam, for food and beverages containers in the Municipality of

Bayambang and prescribing penalties thereof” otherwise known as the Municipal

Ordinance No. 19 – Series of 2017. The subject ordinance has been approved by the

Sangguniang Panlalawigan last October 9, 2017 and the implementation has started last

July 1, 2017. This ordinance is enacted for the following purposes: 1) to regulate the

“single-use” of plastic cellophane and sando bags; 2) eventual prohibition of the use, sale

and provision of polystyrene as food and beverage containers; 3) to encourage the

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utilization of alternative packaging materials like banana leaves, taro leaves, etc.; 4) to

advocate the “No Plastic Day”; and 5) “Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) programs of the

Municipal Government (http://www.bayambang.gov.ph/ordinance/municipal-ordinance-

no-19-series-of-2017/).

But these ban leave the impression that the government will solve the plastic

pollution problem without much discussion of systematic solutions. Society should think

entirely about the product and its environmental impacts. Instead of banning bad products

people must invest in alternatives (Stanislaus, 2018).

Most of the citizens show little concern about the maintenance of the environment.

Citizen’s only primary concern is to look only for own conveniences and ignore

environmental issues.

It is on the above premise that the researchers are to conduct this study with the

hope that the implementation of plastic ban will improve this locality.

Theoretical Framework

The use of multiple theories, as spectacles or lens, at the least provides some

reassurance that information will be collected in a more diverse manner than if just one

theory were applied. In conceptualizing this study on the Implementation of Plastic Ban

in Bayambang: Assessment of Its Effectiveness and Environmental Impacts, the

researchers were guided by the following theories.

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by Icek Ajzen (1988) is an extension of

the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). TPB is the successor of the similar TRA by
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Ajzenand Fishbein formulated in 1980. The succession was the result of the discovery

that behavior appeared not to be 100% voluntary under control, which resulted in the

addition of perceived behavioral control. It states that the behavior of an individual can

be predicted from his or her intentions, attitudes, and the subjective environmental

influences in which rational thinking enters in this theory, results in rational

considerations that, in turn, influence and govern the choices, decisions, and behaviors of

an individual.

In this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior will relate about the behavior of the

people in a community wherein an individual’s intentions, attitudes, and choices will

predict his or her rational thinking. This theory will assess the attitude towards the

behavior of the citizens regarding the implementation of plastic ban in Bayambang,

Pangasinan.

In 1999, Paul Stern created the Value-Belief-Norm Theory (VBN). It posits that

actions performed by individuals depend on their belief that environmental entities of

certain importance are threatened. VBN theory measures from other theories to account

for three types of nonactivist environmentalism: these include environmental citizenship,

private-sphere behavior, and policy support (willingness to sacrifice).

In this study, this theory will include studies of environmentally significant

behaviors and their causes. This will relate the values and beliefs of an individual in an

environment where it can have an impact in the environment itself. The Value Belief

Norm Theory, among the other theories, provides a more explanation of the human-

environment interaction and how these interactions can affect each other.
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The VBN theory postulates that values have an influence on the awareness of the

effectiveness and environmental impacts of plastic ban. Hence, the researchers propose

that the more a person adheres to altruistic and egoistic values, the more he/she becomes

aware of the effectiveness and environmental impacts of plastic ban. The researchers also

propose that the more a person agrees to anthropocentric and ecocentric values, the more

he/she becomes aware of the effectiveness and environmental impacts of plastic ban.

Theory of Environmentally Responsible Behavior (ERB) proposed by Hines,

Hungerford, and Tomera in 1987 states that possessing an intention of acting is a major

factor influencing ERB. The theory of ERB indicates that the following variables;

intention to act, locus of control (sense of personal control over the events in one’s own

life), attitudes, sense of personal responsibility, and knowledge suggested whether a

person would adopt a behavior or not. This theory highlights the existence of a

relationship between the control center, attitudes of individuals and their intention to act.

It shows that the control center directly affects an individual’s attitudes which can lead to

an improved intention of acting and improved behavior. Thus, the theory concentrates

more on existing interactions between parameters that influence a person’s behavior than

on the singular impact of a single variable.

In this study, the theory relates the influence of individual’s knowledge, attitude,

and intentions towards the environment. These good attitudes which can lead to good

intentions can influence the actions of the citizens to act rightly despite the actions of

others towards the environment.

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In conclusion, the use of these theories can create relational paths in finding long

lasting solutions to various environmental problems created by different human

behaviors. The theories reviewed will certainly prove important in the quest for nurturing

a citizenry who will engage the environment sustainably.

Conceptual Framework

The Senate Bill (SB) 1948 or the Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 proposed by

Senator Loren Legarda served as the basis in the development of the ordinance. SB 1948

seeks to implement a total plastic ban throughout the country. The use of plastic bags in

all establishments is to be prohibited, with corresponding penalties for its violation, with

the objective of curbing pollution and helping the country manage its ecological assets

more judiciously.

Also considered here is the two Senate Bills that the Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had

backed that seeks to regulate the use of plastic grocery bags and push for the use of

environment-friendly alternatives...Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya and

Environment Executive Director Emelita Aguinaldo complimented Senate Bill 1103 and

1543 by Senator Manuel Villar and Miriam,Defensor,Santiago.

Another basis is the House Bill 4840 or the Plastic Bag Regulation Act of 2011

that requires operators of commercial establishments to provide biodegradable plastic

bags to consumers and to establish an in-store recovery program that will give customers
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opportunity to return used plastic bags to establishments where the plastic bags

originated.

The Municipality of Bayambang has already enacted its municipal ordinance

regarding plastic which is “Regulating the use of plastic cellophane and sando bags as

packaging materials and utilization of polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, for

food and beverages” otherwise known as Municipal Ordinance No. 19 – Series of 2017.

The ordinance was strengthened by Strict Implementation of RA 9002, otherwise

known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, it is declared that the policy

of State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management

program which shall ensure the protection of public health and environment.

The municipal ordinance has set standards and penalties thereof.

The focus of this is study was on the assessment of effectiveness environmental

impacts in response to the municipal ordinance.

The conceptual framework in the study is presented in a process flow that is

shown in Figure 1 in the next page. This study will use the input-process-output (IPO)

diagram.

The first box illustrates the input. The input are the following sub-problems: first,

Socio-economic profile of the respondents in terms of: 1) Age; 2) Sex; 3) Occupation;

and 4) Educational Attainment; second, Knowledge of the selected respondents in

Bayambang, Pangasinan in terms of: 1) Public Announcement; 2) Mass Media; and 3)

Online Sources; third, Effects of the ordinance in the overall condition of Waterways,

Public Roads, and Health of the residents; and lastly, Difficulties encountered by the
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residents in the implementation of plastic ban in Bayambang, Pangasinan.

The second box illustrates the process. The process are as follows: 1) Determining

the view of the selected respondents by using survey questionnaire; 2) Developing the

Action Plan; 3) Revising the Action Plan based on the suggestions of the respondents; 4)

Descriptive Qualitative Analysis of Data; 5) Evaluating the effectiveness/benefits of the

ordinance based on the observations of the respondents, and; 6) Making final revisions

based on the suggestions of the respondents.

The third box illustrates the output. The researchers hope that after the analysis,

they will be able to come up with a proposed action plan. An action plan is a document

that lists what steps must be taken in order to achieve a specific goal. The purpose of

an action plan is to simplify what resources are required to reach the goal, formulate a

timeline for when specific tasks need to be completed and determine what resources are

required. This action plan can help the Municipality of Bayambang to improve the extent

of the Municipal Ordinance No. 19.

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INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Socio-economic profile Determining the view Proposed Action Plan

…of the respondents in of the selected to Improve the extent
…terms of: respondents by using of implementation of
survey questionnaire the Municipal
1.1 Age, Ordinance No. 19
1.2 Sex,
1.3 Occupation, and
1.4 Educational Developing the Action
Attainment Plan

Revising the Action

2. Knowledge of the Plan based on the
…selected respondents in suggestions of the
…Bayambang, respondents
…Pangasinan in terms of:
2.1.Public Descriptive Qualitative
…..Announcement, Analysis of Data
2.2 Mass Media, and
2.3.Online Sources
Evaluating the
3..Effects.of.the effectiveness/benefits
…ordinance.in,the of the ordinance based
…overall condition of: on the observations of
the respondents
3.1 Water ways,
3.2 Public Roads, and
3.3,Health,of,the Making final revisions
residents based on the
suggestions of the
respondents
4. Difficulties
…encountered by the
…respondents in the
…Implementation of
…Municipal Ordinance
,,,,No. 19

Figure 1. Conceptual paradigm showing the relationship of the variables in the

study
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Statement of the Problem

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of implementing plastic ban and its

environmental impacts in Bayambang, Pangasinan. It focuses on the situation or problem

concerning the regulation of using plastics during the month of February to May in the

year of 2019.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following sub-problems:

1. What is the socio-economic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age,

1.2 Sex,

1.3 Occupation, and

1.4 Educational Attainment?

2. How knowledgeable are the selected respondents in Bayambang, Pangasinan

to the ordinance in terms of the following:

2.1 Public Announcement,

2.2 Mass Media, and

2.3 Online Sources?

3. What are the effects of the ordinance in the overall condition of:

3.1 Water ways,

3.2 Roads, and

3.3 Health of the residents?

4. What difficulties do the respondents encountered in the implementation of plastic

ban in Bayambang, Pangasinan?

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5. What action plan can be proposed to improve the extent of implementation of

….. . the.plastic ban in Bayambang, Pangasinan?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study will focus on the assessment of the Effectiveness and Environmental

Impacts of plastic ban in Bayambang, Pangasinan.

This study will be limited to thirty (30) respondents. It will be composed of

selected citizens of the Municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan. Specifically, ten (10)

vendors, ten (10) consumers, and ten (10) residents that are mostly affected by the flood,

where the respondent’s current location is within the vicinity of the town. Also, the study

will be conducted from February to May in the year of 2019.

The evaluation of the questionnaire and statistical tool validity of the present study

was done by the two (2) validators from the same university in Bayambang, Pangasinan

only. The content validity of the present study was evaluated using the questionnaires

from the related studies. The questions were basically the same, but the format was

changed into tabular form with additional rows added for comments of the validators.

Then, overall comments/suggestions were encouraged as lines and spaces were provided

on the last part.

Significance of the Study

Since the purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and environmental
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impacts of implementing plastic ban in the town of Bayambang, Pangasinan, the findings

of this study would find importance of the following:

The Consumers. This study will provide the data needed and would give an

overview to their decisions or opinions regarding the implementation of plastic ban and

adaption of proper segregation in the town of Bayambang. Also, this could be used as a

model in improving or reducing the use of plastics by their own techniques or strategies.

The Vendors. The findings of this study hopes to provide data needed to inform

them about alternative kinds of bags to reduce the use of plastic bags. Also, to let them

know about the negative effects of plastics in our environment.

The Garbage Collectors. This study hopes to provide the data needed involving

the usage of plastic in the Municipality of Bayambang for a wider overview about the

study.

The Residents. This study aims to provide the data and information needed for a

refinement in a certain place in the municipality where flooding mostly occurs.

The LGU of Bayambang. This study hoped to provide data needed to identify

the weakness and strengths of implementing plastic ban.

Other Municipalities. The findings of this study may incorporate benefits to

other municipalities regarding the implementation of plastic ban.

The Future Researchers. The outcome of this study will gain insights on how

effective the plastic ban and its environmental impacts in the town of Bayambang. The

data that will be presented can be baseline data for further research using different

methods or variables.
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Definition of Terms

For the purpose of clarification, the following terminologies are defined

conceptually and operationally as used in this study.

Action Plan. This refers to a sequence of steps that must be taken, or activities

that must be performed well, in order to succeed (Business Dictionary). In this study, it

refers to simplify what resources are required to reach the goal, formulate a timeline for

specific tasks need to be completed to improve the extent of implementation of the

Municipal Ordinance No. 19.

Assessment. The action or an instance of making a judgment about something

(Merriam Webster Dictionary). In this study, it refers to the imposition of effectiveness

and environmental impacts of the implementation of plastic ban in Bayambang,

Pangasinan.

Implementation. It is the process of putting a decision or plan into effect;

execution (Oxford Dictionary). In this study, it refers to the operation of the plastic ban in

the Municipality of Bayambang.

Local Government Unit (LGU). It refers to institutional units in the municipality

of Bayambang whose fiscal, legislative and executive authority extends over the smallest

geographical areas distinguished for administrative and political purposes.

Municipal Ordinance No. 19 Series of 2017. An ordinance regulating the use of

plastic cellophane and sando bags as packaging materials and utilization of polystyrene,

commonly known as styrofoam, for food and beverages containers in the municipality of

Bayambang and prescribing penalties thereof.

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Plastic. Any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are

mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can

be made into objects, films, or filaments (Merriam Webster Dictionary). In this study, it

refers to a non-biodegradable matter that may cause harm to human health and

environment when not disposed properly.

Plastic Ban. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, ban means to prohibit

especially by legal means. In this study, it refers to the banning of plastics in Bayambang

Pangasinan.

Socio-Economic Profile. It refers to the personal data of the respondents in terms

of their age, sex and occupation.

Waterways. A way or channel for water (Merriam Webster Dictionary). This

include water features including rivers, canals and streams, as well also lakes, reservoirs

and docks where wastes like plastics pass through.