RECYCLED PRODUCTS. Village officials from Badiangan town, Iloilo province transform trash to useable and profitable materials. Twelve towns in Iloilo display their recycled products on Monday (Dec. 2, 2019) at the Iloilo provincial Capitol lobby to kick off the province’s Solid Waste Awareness week. (PNA Photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- To show their unequivocal support to the province’s solid waste management program, twelve Iloilo governments units (LGUs) on Monday showcased products and creations from recyclable materials.
A dozen LGUs exhibited their recycled products and showed their good practices on wastes at the Iloilo provincial Capitol to kick off the province’s Solid Waste Management Awareness week, said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environment management specialist of Iloilo Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, in an interview.
“They have shown here the products that were made from the recyclable materials that are readily available in their respective communities. This is one of our efforts to show the province that the trash can still be made useful and even saleable,” Peñaflorida said.
Among the items displayed are bags, slippers, decorative pots, pillows, stuffed toys, and chairs made of plastic and other residual wastes.
Decorated bottles, paper flower vases, key chains, and dolls dressed in left-over fabrics are also exhibited.
“These products are eco-friendly choices of the Ilonggos who wish to give their relatives and friends something special this holiday season,” she said.
As some of the items are for sale, the PENRO-Iloilo is eyeing to tap the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Center for the products to be labeled, packaged, and become ready for the market.
“We will help them in packaging the products. We will tap the LEDIP to help especially on the costing to put value in the effort and materials used by our participants” she said.
The towns of Miag-ao, Batad, Ajuy, San Dionisio, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Dumangas, Tigbauan, Leon, Badiangan, Cabatuan, and the city of Passi have participated in the product display.
Peñaflorida said each of the 43 local government units in the province also has its own recyclable products that are being eyed to fill the six floors of the provincial Capitol in next year’s Solid Waste Management Week celebration.
The showcasing of the recycled products that will last until Friday is one of the activities that advocates for a more sustainable solid waste management program of the province, she said.
On Nov. 20, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. signed Provincial Ordinance 2019-193 which regulates the use of single-use plastics and styrofoam for goods and commodities and promotes the use of native baskets and other biodegradable materials. (PNA)
