The fight against solid wastes being dumped in the Pasig River began on Earth Day. Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP), the newest venture of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) inaugurated the first two material recovery facilities (MRFs) in Mandaluyong City and Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila.

With an MRF in a community, the solid waste issue can be dealt with at source. Instead of dumping waste in the rivers and creeks, residents can just as easily hand over their kitchen wastes, plastics, old newspapers, and aluminum cans to the MRF.

Solid wastes, which can be segregated into biodegradables and non-biodegradables, make up about five percent of the pollutants in Pasig River. This translates to five tons of trash thrown to Pasig River daily.

Within a year, KBPIP plans to put up 12 MRFs in strategic areas along the Pasig River and its tributaries.

"The only way that we can clean the Pasig River and do anything good is if we do it together," said Gina Lopez, AFI Managing Director.

Indeed, the “kapit bisig” spirit was evident as different sectors supported the material recovery facility initiative.

PRRC, under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), generously provided the equipment and construction of the MRFs.

There are equipments in an MRF that address different kinds of solid wastes. Biodegradables such as kitchen wastes are put into a biodigester, which produces methane to power up all the other equipments.

Biodegradables may also be put into composter or vermicompost beds. Non-biodegradables such as plastics and styrofoam are sorted then fed into the shredders and styro oven. The processed non-biodegradables can then be recycled into finished products such as bricks, pavers, and table top.

"We should operate our MRFs properly because it has a livelihood component which can help the community earn," Architect Deogracias Tablan, PRRC Executive Director said.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos stressed the need to "save the Earth for the benefit of our children." The city government granted the land for the MRF in Mandaluyong.

Meanwhile, the land for the Punta, Sta. Ana MRF was provided by the community put up by the Archdiocese of Manila for those that were relocated from communities along the Pasig River.

Goldilocks, the Filipino foods giant, marked a milestone as they became the very first corporation to sponsor an MRF. Goldilocks donated a total of P5 million for three MRFs not only in Mandaluyong, but also in PUP-Sta. Mesa, and Quezon City.

ABS-CBN artists also showed their full support for KBPIP. Bianca Gonzales served as the host for the two MRF inaugurations while PDA talents Ronnie Liang and Laarni Lozada sang their hit songs for the crowd. Gonzales, Liang and Lozada waived their talent fees as contribution to the Pasig River cause.