City launches plastic waste residual recovery program

By Gerald O. Enguero
Bicol Mail

Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat last Monday launched at city hall here the citywide integrated solid waste management program, to be known as “Happy Go Linig” before representatives of the different barangays, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

While consultations with concerned representatives and city residents are still needed to fine tune the program, “Happy Go Linig” is aimed at establishing a more comprehensive urban cleaning and greening program to better promote a healthy population living comfortably in the city popularly known as “Maogmang Naga.”

Bongat said the program seeks to enjoin communities and public schools to focus on prevention, recycling, and management of solid waste in ways that most effectively protect human health and environment.

He said a committee should be created for the purpose, with him as chairman, the solid waste management officer as vice-chairman and presiding officer and other concerned city officials, and representatives of the private sector and private organizations as members. The committee so created will formulate strategies to gain the support of the public, barangay officials, and private groups and henceforth issue specific rules and guidelines for the search for model/cleanest barangay/s/community (ies).

Bongat disclosed that the program will likewise encourage a waste banking system that will spearhead the recovery of plastics and other related residuals in the barangays and campuses.

One idea, he revealed, is to exchange recovered plastic residuals with a kilo of rice or school supplies equivalent to more or less P25 per kilo as redemption cost.