For its pro-environment advocacies and for implementing proper waste management in its communities, the town of Binangonan in Rizal province bagged the top environment award for the most number of compliant villages in District 1 of the province.
During the recent 11th anniversary of the Ynares Eco System to Green (YES) program of the Rizal provincial government, Binangonan municipal government was adjudged as the Top YES Performer –YES Champion for District 1 in the province.
The office of Binangonan municipal administrator Russel Ynares said the Rizal provincial government has recognized the pro-environment practices of the communities, leading to the awards such as Compliant Community Garden in Rizal Province and Functional Materials Recovery Facility.
For the community gardens or urban gardens, all the 40 barangays (villages) in the town, aside from the vegetable gardens that are being managed by the local government, have established the greening projects in its respective communities.
(Photo from Binangonan municipal government's Facebook page)
Residents, including members of the Barkadahan ng mga Kababaihan ng Binangonan (BKB) are the ones taking care of the vegetable garden including in the harvesting and sharing of the produce.
During a visit by this reporter at the urban garden of the municipal government in Barangay Lunsad on Sunday, it was learned that since the early 2024, the gardens have produced several kilos of vegetables such as lettuce, legumes, eggplant, green pepper, herbs, and fruits which were grown by volunteers who are residents themselves.
(Photos by Nel Andrade/Manila Bulletin)
The seedlings and saplings were either given by the municipal government’s agriculture office or the Department of Agriculture.
(Photo by Nel Andrade)
Most of the urban gardens are situated inside the MRF compound of the respective barangay where the recycling, reducing, and re-using of waste materials are strictly practiced.
In the MRF, recyclables that are non-biodegradable such as plastic bottles and plastic products are segregated from biodegradable wastes.
(Photo from Binangonan municipal government's FB page)
At present, plastic bottles of soft drinks are collected and processed by BKB members to become part of of the giant recycled Christmas tree which will be the entry of the municipal government in the provincial government’s annual contest during the Christmas Season.
Mayor Cesar Ynares led local officials in receiving the award during the 11th YES anniversary awarding ceremony in Antipolo City on Sept. 26.