SEVERAL election campaign materials used by the “Team Performance” political party in Mandaluyong City are collected and repurposed as functional bags, aprons, emergency sleeping bags, and even “eco-bricks”.

The idea behind “recycling” election campaign materials came from City Councilor Benjie Abalos, who chairs the Committee on Environment of Mandaluyong local government and as an additional livelihood project for residents of the city.

With the support of Mayor Menchie Abalos, the City Environmental Management Department (CEMD) started collecting election campaign materials all over the city after election day.

According to Mandaluyong Manpower and Technical and Vocational Training Center (MMTVTC) Head Midge Tampinco, the collected materials were cleaned and sorted according to their condition.

Campaign materials in almost pristine condition will be used to make bags.

“The materials are brought to us, and then we train the individuals who will make the products using one pattern for each functional bag to make it ‘uniform’ for all bag makers. The materials with average quality will be used in other parts of the bag, and the very brittle ones and scraps will be grounded to be used for making eco-bricks,” Tampinco said.

She further explained that functional bags could be any bag for daily use, such as eco-bags, lunch box bags, or shoulder bags.

They can be made using either the printed, the back, or the white side of the election campaign material.

The local government trained six persons who regularly make bags and aprons using recycled materials.

Tampinco added that the bag makers use the sewing machines available at their respective barangays and Coun. Abalos provides the needles and thread.

“The bag maker will not spend a single centavo just to make a bag since all the materials and equipment are already provided,” Tampinco pointed out.

A standard eco bag measuring 24″ x 20″ is sold for P50. Aprons are also sold at the same price.

The bag maker gets P35, while the remaining P15 will go to the barangay. Large bags and lunch box bags are sold at P100 each or more.
Coun. Abalos said the program’s goal is that when the bag makers can already mass-produce the functional bags, they can start supplying white-colored bags to major supermarkets and souvenir shops in the city.

“We aim to provide finished functional bags in ‘plain white’ so buyers can personalize it by painting the design they want on it,” said Abalos.

The bag makers have also been trained at the MMTVTC to make emergency sleeping bags. They use “Velcro” or a hook-and-loop fastener that seals both sides of the mat.

Each sleeping bag also has a pouch at the opening where clothing can be placed and serves as a pillow.

These sleeping bags are helpful for emergencies and are also given to fire victims in the city.