BACOLOD CITY – The Bago City government has launched a community-based waste-to-cash program to boost its environmental protection and preservation efforts.

City officials headed by Vice Mayor Ramon Torres and representatives of partner-organizations led the launching of the project in Barangays Ma-ao and Poblacion this week.

BAGO City, Negros Occidental officials headed by Vice Mayor Ramon Torres (sixth from left), with officials and representatives of partner-organizations and different government agencies, launch the ‘Aling Tindera Plastic Waste-to-Cash’ program at the city's Bantayan Park in Barangay Poblacion on Tuesday, June 18. (Photo courtesy of The Citybridge)

Dubbed Aling Tindera Plastic Waste-to-Cash, the program aims to provide an avenue where people can monetize plastic waste, encourage discipline in the treatment of post-consumer plastics, reduce leakage into the environment, and educate future generations about the benefits of co-processing, recycling, and other high-level waste management processes.

The program is in partnership with impact organization Friends of Hope Inc. (FHI) and Germany-based development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Aling Tindera program coordinator Mia Rosabel Grace Azurin said the plastic pollution crisis is primarily driven by the use of single-use plastics like sachets, and the Philippines is one of the worst marine pollution offenders.

She said that this initiative aims to help the community manage their own plastic wastes at home and give additional income to designated Aling Tinderas who will manage waste collection stations as well as their respective community members.

Two Aling Tindera waste collection stations were established near the city’s sanitary landfill in Sitio Pandan in Barangay Ma-ao and beside the fish port at the Bantayan Park in Barangay Poblacion.

Azurin said the stations will buy plastic sachets, packaging materials, and containers, among other plastic wastes, from residents at P2 per kilo, while the partner-organizations will then purchase them from the stations at P2.50 per kilo.

“It’s a big milestone today as the vision of Bago City comes alive and we are happy to be part of it,” GIZ-3RproMAR project manager Dr. Johannes Paul said.

Torres underscored the importance of working hand-in-hand in the protection and conservation of the environment through programs that will help address plastic pollution.

City Environment Management Office (CEMO) head Vicente Mesias said they are eyeing to open more Aling Tindera stations in the city, adding that the project will have positive social and environmental impacts to the community.