ANGELES CITY — Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. will be earmarking P100 million for the implementation of the “plastic to rice exchange program” in January 2022.
The program is aimed to encourage Angeleño households to practice waste segregation at source, in their own homes, as well as to reduce if not eliminate the use of plastics.
“While we are persuading our kababayans to segregate waste into its classifications – biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, and plastic – there is something waiting for their hard work – a reward of rice,” Lazatin urged.
Dubbed as “Walang Plastikan Bigas Palit Project,” Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas said the city government will collect recyclable plastics from Angeleño households in exchange for rice.
Calaguas said P100 million out of the P204-M budget allotted yearly for Waste Segregation Management will be used to purchase rice and equipment needed for the upcoming project, including a designated storage area and redemption trucks roaming around the 33 barangays daily that will serve as the barter station.
The plastics collected, will then be sold to companies recycling plastic for hollow blocks and cement.
“Kaysa dalhin sa tipping at hauling fee ang pondo, gagawin itong incentive para maka-encourage ang bawat household to segregate. Eventually, the city will have enough savings to realize the plan of Mayor Lazatin for the city to have its own landfill,” Calaguas said.
“While reinforcing the city’s Ordinance in prohibiting the use of plastic, we also have to provide a long-term sustainable solution for waste segregation,” Calaguas reiterated.
Implementing rules and regulations will be established in terms of equivalency – how many kilos of plastic for 1 kg of rice – as well as the daily truck schedule in the 33 barangays for the plastic collection.
“Mas maayos at kapaki-pakinabang po na plastic, yung pong malinis na kapag pinapalit sa atin,” Calaguas explained.
According to City Engineer Donato Dizon, the collected plastic will be sold to partner companies and sales will be turned over to the City Treasurer’s Office.
“Pwede rin po sa mga kumpanya na nagpapalit semento,” Dizon said.
Part of the priority programs of Mayor Lazatin is Solid Waste Management.
It can be recalled that last July 2020, Mayor Lazatin also ordered the installation of 10 garbage bins and the daily clearing of the transfer station in Barangay Sta. Teresita.
Regular monitoring of establishments using plastic is also being conducted by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Part of the project’s planning committee are: Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, City Budget Officer Corazon Ayson, City Accountant Genoveva Dizon, City Planning and Development Officer Ami Victoria Dacanay, CENRO OIC Archie Lazatin, Angeles City Traffic Development Officer-in-Charge Francis Pangilinan, Gender and Development Head Mina Cabiles, and Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego.