MAYOR Vico Sotto has lauded the Barangay San Antonio, Pasig (BSA) and its Chairman Raymond Lising for its sustainable and systematic “Basura to Ayuda” program during its first anniversary recently even saying that it should be imitated by other barangays in the city.

“Napaka-gandang initiative ng Basura to Ayuda, sana ay ma-expand pa natin sa ibang mga barangay ng lungsod Pasig. Magandang ehemplo talaga ito ng Barangay San Antonio, sina Kap. Raymond Lising marami silang magagandang programa tulad nito na magandang gawin sa mga ibang barangay sa Pasig,” Sotto, who went to the program’s anniversary, said.

“Congratulations, Barangay San Antonio at sa lahat ng partners nila dito sa Basura to Ayuda program. Happy first anniversary!”

For his part, BSA Chairman Lising said that they were very flattered and honoured for the praises that Mayor Vico gave to their program, Basura to Ayuda.

“We are very flattered and honoured for the praises that Mayor Vico gave to us and to our program. Rest assured that we will continue this program as it has already been a habit for our kabarangays to segregate and recycle,” he said.

During the program’s anniversary, over 200 kilos of plastic waste have been collected by the BSA from its constituents.

Lising said that they are very elated that it has been a habit for residents to recycle due to the Basura to Ayuda program which shows a whole of community approach to recycling.

This sustainable project of the barangay manifests the community’s social responsibility in protecting the environment, he added.

“I am very thankful to our kabarangays for taking part in this noble program. This is our barangay’s contribution in taking care of our environment” he said.

“Let us always make it a habit to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We only have one planet, we should take care of it by protecting the environment,” the barangay chairman added.

The Basura to Ayuda program of BSA also eased the burden of garbage collectors as most of the residents participating in the program are already segregating their wastes. Before, it takes so much effort and time for garbage collectors to segregate the wastes of residents.

Aiming to save the environment and encourage residents to recycle by exchanging their plastic wastes for packs of rice amid the pandemic, BSA partnered with Planeta Cares, a non-government organization, to launch the “Bayanihan Waste Management Program (BWMP): Basura to Ayuda” in October last year.

Under the program, residents will collect and bring 500 grams of loose plastic or 1.5L eco-brick weighing 500 grams in exchange for 3 kilos of rice.

The plastic wastes accepted in the project were plastic containers and tubs; shampoo, detergent, and other HDPE bottles; plastic bags, sachets, snack packs, plastic cups, lids, utensils, and PET bottles.

Planeta Cares brings the collected plastic waste to their three selected recycling entities—The Sustainable Gardener PH, Cloop, and Sari-Cycle.

Cloop and Sari-Cycle—both situated in Pasig—employ members of low-income families and their end products such as trophies and school supplies are being sold and the profit goes to the salary of their workers, she said. Meantime, the eco-bricks will go to The Sustainable Gardener PH for their urban farming projects.

Meanwhile, the materials built from recycled plastics be given to poor communities that need them the most.

Also present during the event was BSA Councilor Justin Galang who is heading the barangay’s Committee on Clean and Green.