The Angeles City government commenced on January 4, 2024 the distribution of locally-produced reusable bags to those applying and renewing their business permits here.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin, Jr. said this initiative is to encourage business owners to reduce, if not eliminate, the usage of plastic, and to switch to environment-friendly materials.

The distribution of reusable bags coincided with the issuance and renewal of business permits at the Business Permit and Licensing Division.

The said reusable bags were initially produced by hired tailors and needle women who are part of the Angeleño First livelihood program of Mayor Lazatin.

According to Mayor Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, who is supervising the program distribution with Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, each applicant or those renewing a business permit at the BPLD will receive one reusable bag.

The Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Office headed by Irish Bonus-Llego is also assisting in the distribution at BPLD.

Calaguas also furthered that a total of 100,000 environment-friendly bags are set to be distributed throughout the city.

Part of the flagship program of Mayor Lazatin is to campaign to prohibit the usage of plastics and styrofoam, through the strict reinforcement of City Ordinance No. 431, s-2017.

One of the noteworthy environmental programs launched by Mayor Lazatin is the Plastic to Rice Exchange program, where 2.6 million plastics have been exchanged to rice, collected, and converted to bricks and cement, to date.