According to the National Geographic, “plastic bottles and plastic caps are the third and fourth most collected plastic trash in the Ocean Conservancy’s annual beach cleanups.” In a market study published last year, the Philippines consumes a staggering 163 million pieces plastic sachets every day (The World Bank, 2021). It is also added that, in the Philippines, plastic industry is not only vital to the Philippine economy but plastics also provide low-cost consumer goods to poor and middle-income families. However, mismanagement of disposing plastic bottles becomes alarming especially on the levels of marine plastic pollution in the country.
With this occurring problems are at hand; the government has established different programs to mitigate this. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a member of the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR), through its Risk Resiliency Program, implemented the Risk Resiliency Program- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation- Disaster Risk Reduction or RRP-CCAM-DRR.
For 4 years now, RRP-CCAM-DRR initiatives are being implemented in different municipalities of the regions. Projects like Plastic Bottles Recycling, Mangrove Reforestation, Urban Gardening, Riverbanks Rehabilitation, and the likes, have been implemented by different LGUs and different stakeholders.
With this pressing problem on mismanagement of plastic disposals, the Department has been consistently advocating for programs and activities that would help address the issue as the country continues on its battle against plastic bottles pollution.
LGU Bayabas on Taking the Heed
“Unexpected outcome” were the first words uttered by Jude Limbaro, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of LGU Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, when asked about the outcome of their RRP-CCAM-DRR plastic bottle recycling project in 2021.
It was in early January 2022 that the local netizens went abuzz on a post about the aesthetic fence standing sturdily along the national highway of Cantilan-Tandag Road, fencing a Material Recovery Facility housing a Vermi-bed (shredded waste with organic fertilizer). Up close, a passer-by posted a video, astonished on the ingenuity when he found out that the colorful walls were made out of plastic bottles with colored cellophanes in it.
The innovation was derived from the LGU’s Recycling Project in 2020-2021 through the RRP-CCAM-DRR, which then became the eco-brick project. Through the beneficiaries’ full cooperation, the locals produced 20,000 eco-bricks in 10 days from the plastic waste they collected. With this volume, the locals, with the guidance and supervision of the LGU, borne the eco-brick wall.
“(This is part of) our goal to reduce solid wastes and be part of the mitigation and adaptation initiatives of the government against the climate change problems. The said project is among the different RRP-CCAM-DRR implemented by the LGU, together with the Mangrove Reforestation (Sagip-Wakatan), Kawayanihan (Sagip-ilog), Guavayanihan (Sagip-tubig), and Gulayan-Bayanihan,” LGU Bayabas Mayor Maria Clarita Limbaro proudly posted on her social media, expressing fulfilment of the initiatives of LGU Bayabas.
MSWDO Limbaro underscored that the success of this implementation should be rightfully merited to the hardworking people of Bayabas. He also noted that this battle against plastic bottles is not exclusive to coastal communities but a universal one. “Kini nga kalampusan naghatag sa mga beneficiaries ug dugang kadasig nga muapil sa mga sumusunod pa nga proyekto sa gobyerno batok sa environmental degradation.” (The success of this implementation inspires the beneficiaries to be involved again in the future government projects to combat against environmental degradation,” Limbaro said.
Indeed, a success of any battle is only achieved through a unified understanding and purpose. As the saying goes, unity and victory are synonymous. This foes for the people of Bayabas who have been united in advocating for climate change resiliency.
