PLASTICS TURNED INTO ARMCHAIRS. Chad Anthony Modo, Clifton Sanchez and Jovelyn Feniza, Grade 3-Ruby students of Miagao Central Elementary School, use the armchairs that are made from LDPs. (Photo by Louangel Benjamin)

The Basura Mo, Pagkaon Ko (BMPK) project lessened the plastic wastes of Miagao’s residents by exchanging their low density plastics (LDPs) with food packs.

To motivate more residents to take part in their waste segregation campaign, Mayor Macario Napulan initiated to incentivize the collection of LDPs.

“Isa sa ginapaligban kay tungod naga amu na na nga pangampanya sang waste segregation, indi gid ma-segregate sang mayo ang mga basura nila sa pamalay,” Napulan said.

Residents can get food packs for every five kilograms of LDPs. Each pack contains one kilogram of rice, two cans of sardines and one bar of laundry soap.

LDPs are lightweight plastics like sando bags, shampoo, and coffee sachets which are commonly used in every household.

Jeyson Toledo, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) staff, said they were able to lessen their plastic wastes from five tons a month to three tons a month.

The LDPs are collected every Saturday starting in Barangay Narat-an to Brangay Calampitao from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. by the MENRO staff.

“Nami kay mabayluhan ang plastic kang pagkaon kag malimpyuhan man ang palibot,” said Hernan Gabinete, one of the supporters of the project.

“Makabulig gid ang bugas, habon kag sardinas,” he added.

The collected LDPs are stored in their residual containment area at the materials recovery facility (MRF) located in Barangay Baybay Norte until they reach one ton.

It takes approximately two months to reach the one ton quota of collected LDP from the community.

Once they reached their quota, the MENRO will deliver it to San Miguel wherein a facility funded by the Villar Foundation would melt and turn one ton of plastics into 50 armchairs.

The local government unit has gathered enough plastics for 150 armchairs since it was first implemented in 2018.

The beneficiaries of these armchairs are Miagao Central Elementary School (MCES), Guibongan Integrated School (GIS) and Olango Integrated School (OIS).

“The chairs are used by Grade 3 students from last year until this year,” said Jacinta M. Nonato, Miagao Central Elementary School principal.

The project helps in saving mother Earth by utilizing the plastics into usable project that are beneficial to the environment and the community, she added.

The ongoing BMPK project is expected to receive another 50 armchairs within the month of September, which will be given to La Consolacion Integrated School.Louangel Jei D. Benjamin/University of the Philippines Visayas