The Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) has rolled out a livelihood project which aims to give additional income to members of the community relations and information division (CRID) by selling products made of "upcycled" materials.

According to Engineer Tere Quioge, supervising environmental special management of CENRO, the livelihood project was officially launched on February 13 and is now selling products from “upcycled” materials such as cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and tin cans, paper, non-biodegradable protective packaging, shampoo sachets, and cloths.

Quioge said the livelihood market of CENRO is located at the 2^nd floor of Paranaque Public Market along Barangay La Huerta.

She said the livelihood market sells bags, slippers, canvasses, figurines, and other products created from “upcycled” materials.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the livelihood program was also introduced to the community for the people to learn the importance of materials that can be “upcycled” and make it their own livelihood project.

Olivarez said the CENRO was able produce last month 17 bags, 38 pairs of slippers, 81 coin purses, 11 wall decors, and one figurine.

He said almost 400 pieces of upcycled products are created, 100 of which were already sold.

Olivarez said the number sold by the CRID is a testimony of the patronage of Parañaquenos when it comes to promoting and using the upcycled products.

Quioge explained the upcycling is a process of creating a better-quality product from materials that are already considered trash.

She said upcycling is important because it minimizes wastes, especially plastics that end up in the sanitary landfill.

The CENRO added the materials that are supposedly considered as trash are now being transformed into a more useful product.