175 kilos of garbage exchanged for school supplies by students in Rizal and Bulacan

A total of 175 kilos of garbage collected by more than 400 students of the San Juan Elementary School in San Miguel, Bulacan and Pinugay Elementary School in Baras, Rizal were exchanged for much-needed school supplies in time for the opening of classes on Aug. 29.

School supplies-for-garbage exchange program at the Pinugay Elementary School in Baras, Rizal

Spearheaded by MGen Renewable Energy, Inc. (MGreen), the renewable energy arm of Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), the "Basura-Palit-Gamit-Eskwela" program aims to instill environmental awareness and promote recycling among the public, most especially students.

In exchange for the garbage that the students collected, they received school supplies such as pencils, crayons, and notebooks, among others.

Anchored on One Meralco’s Race to Zero Waste program, MGreen introduced the program through its subsidiaries BulacanSol, a 55MWac solar power plant in San Miguel, Bulacan, and PH Renewables, Inc. (PHRI), a 75Mwac solar power plant in Baras, Rizal.

The program aims to promote environmental awareness, preservation, and sustainability. Through this program, students from BulacanSol and PHRI host communities have the chance to receive school supplies in exchange for recyclable materials such as newspapers, cardboard, plastic bottles and caps, papers, cans, and plastic food wrappers. It also supports the implementation of Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to prevent pollution.

The collection and recycling of waste are being done in partnership with GreenAntz Builders, Inc., an environmental solution company that provides eco-friendly practices and green technology solutions.

“By instilling environmental awareness at a young age, we aim to foster a generation of responsible individuals who make sustainable practices a  part of their lifestyle,” Meralco PowerGen Corporation-Global Business Power Corporation (MGen-GBP) President and CEO Jaime Azurin said.

According to Engr. Wilfredo Santos, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office Head of San Miguel, Bulacan, the program complements the local government unit’s efforts in promoting ecological solid waste management among the residents of San Miguel, Bulacan.

School Principal Margie Mapa of Pinugay Elementary School lauded the program as it helps augment their students’ school supplies, aside from promoting environmental stewardship.

The provinces of Bulacan and Rizal continue to conduct their environmental protection and climate change awareness initiatives through clean-up drives, tree planting activities, and benchmarking events in partnership with other local government units (LGUs) here and abroad to further improve not just their governance and best practices, but develop ways on how to protect nature.