The San Juan City local government, together with the two non-government organizations (NGOs), launched on Friday, Nov.4, a revolutionary program aimed at reducing plastic pollution in the country and increasing public awareness on recycling.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the launching of the "Kuha sa Tingi" project at the San Juan City Hall, together with Greenpeace Philippines country director Lea Guerrero, Zero Waste campaigner Marian Ledesma, and Impact Hub Manila CEO and founder Ces Rondario.

"Kuha sa Tingi" is an environmental awareness project that will install refilling stations in 10 existing sari-sari stores in the city where the public can purchase different commodities such as shampoo and body wash, dishwashing liquid, liquid detergent, and fabric conditioner in smaller quantities, hence the term "tingi-tingi".

The project aims to reduce the selling of items in plastic sachets which bring harm to the environment.

“This is a culture that we want to develop, na (that) instead of buying sachets, bibili na lang ng tingi dito (we just buy commodities in small portions here)," Zamora said.

He said buyers are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable containers when they buy.

“San Juan City is committed to addressing the problem of plastic pollution in the country. We have already launched several projects that aim to reuse or recycle plastics. We believe that communities can lead the way to show that we can reduce, if not totally eliminate, single-use plastics. ‘Kuha Sa Tingi’ does just that by doing away with the sachets and other single-use plastics and promoting reuse and refill systems. This project protects the environment, reduces plastic waste, creates livelihoods, and supports a slow circular economy,” Zamora explained.

“Kuha sa Tingi reclaims our tingi culture, which was once defined by practical and sustainable practices like refilling reusable containers and purchasing only what you need. It’s about reimagining small volume retail into a zero waste model once more. By installing refilling stations in sari-sari stores and designing the model to consider the needs of the community, we can make plastic-free goods available for Filipinos from all socioeconomic sectors,” Ledesma said.

She said they aim to normalize the idea that people no longer need to use sachets, adding that companies also have to do their share in the reuse and refill systems.

“We need not just people to work on solutions, but governments like San Juan and corporations have to advance solutions that move us away from our dependency on plastics and dependency on fossil fuels,” she added.

Guerrero, for her part, said that partnering with San Juan City for the project is “a very happy occasion for Greenpeace”

She said the project is the first of its kind in the Philippines, noting that it is not just an ordinary sari-sari store but a system that brings to communities the products that can only be bought in big establishments before.

“This is a pioneering project that can be and should be replicated in other parts of the Philippines," Guerrero said,

“We are hoping that Kuha Sa Tingi will be adopted by more sari-sari stores after the pilot launch. I am also encouraging San Juanenos to support this effort so we can scale it to more stores in the future,” Mayor Zamora said.

"Kuha sa Tingi" is the latest San Juan environmental-focused initiatives that is considered a breakthrough.

In March, the city government partnered with Greenpeace, Plastic Credit Exchange, and Eastwest Builders Inc. as it shifts towards a greener and more environmentally conscious city in Metro Manila.

Zamora signed three memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with Greenpeace under the Livable and Lovable Cities Program.