In a bid to minimize solid waste in the city, the Pasig City local government and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched on Saturday, Oct. 15, the “May Pera sa Basura” program at Barangay Kalawaan, Pasig City.
The “May Pera sa Basura” program is part of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFP), a joint venture between the MMDA and the World Bank.
It falls under the MMFP’s second component that seeks to address solid waste buildup in waterways through “neighborhood-level activities” in areas near the city’s pumping stations, waterway, and drainage channels.
Through the program, citizens were encouraged to bring trash that can be reused and recycled such as plastic bottles and papers, glass, steel, and batteries at the Barangay Hall Grounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Once turned over, citizens were paid a particular amount depending on the kind, and quantity of the waste items they donated.
The program also included a “Recyclers Fair Event” that showcased the variety of finished products items that were produced with recyclable materials.
These include items such as cellphone stands, paver tiles or eco bricks, chairs, trash bins, bags, baskets, shelves, and rulers among others.
Majority of the items shown in the demonstration were raw materials such as sachets, plastic bags, and styrofoam that shredded and turned into pellets.
These pellets were melted and bound together using a styro-plastic densifier machine from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The event was also made possible in cooperation with Woodfields Consultants, Inc. (WCi).
It served as an awareness campaign to inform barangay citizens of the benefits of the recycling process, and the latest technologies in the field in order to augment the project’s waste recovery woes.
The program organizers said they have the technology to transform the waste, but they struggle to receive enough recycled materials in good condition to use.
They sought the help of the local government to help encourage citizens to remedy the supply, specifically requesting items to be whole and dry when given to their barangay.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto stopped by the event to view the products and encouraged citizens to support the program.
“Bukod sa makakatulong ito sa mga pamilya natin, makakatulong din sa kapaligiran at sa ating lungsod (Aside from it helping our families, it will also help our environment and our city),” Sotto said.
The program was also graced by Barangay Captain of Kalawaan Jessie Gaviola, Solid Waste Management Office - City Environment And Natural Resources Office (SWMO-CENRO) Officer in Charge Allen Angeles, and recyclers groups and volunteers.
Barangay Kalawaan was chosen to host the program because it is a beneficiary of the MMFP. Plans are being made to implement similar projects in other Pasig barangays.