COTABATO CITY (PIA) -- The World Vision Philippines and the city government of Cotabato have clinched a partnership deal to implement the 11-month project tagged "Enhancing Solid Waste Management Practices through the Adoption of Circular Economy Models.”

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Hanalyn Bucol said that they are happy to accept the project as a solution to address waste issues, expressing confidence that adopting it will help them improve the implementation of their solid waste management in the city. 

"We are happy to accept this initiative. We share the same goal of further improving our solid waste management. We also believe that this project will further enhance our solid waste management plans with the help and support of our barangays," she noted.

According to Ajab-Aram Macapagat, operations director of World Vision Philippines, the goal of the project is to capacitate the local government units (LGUs) in this city through the adoption of circular economy models.

He explained that the circular economy model minimizes waste by turning it into new products that can be used for longer periods, which can even regenerate nature, such as plantable pencils.

Plantable pencils are eco-friendly regular writing pencils that contain seeds and can be buried in soil to grow new plants once they are all used up.

“Mas palalaliman natin ‘yung ating efforts and practices through the help of CENRO and the city government at mga barangays. Hindi na lang yung common na ginagawa natin na recycle, reuse, but it’s really more about adopting other possible ways on a circular model,” Macapagat said.

[We will deepen our efforts and practices with the help of CENRO, the city government, and barangays. It's not just the common thing that we usually do—recycle and reuse—it's really more about adopting other possible ways on a circular model.]

The World Vision defines the “circular economy model” as a concept that seeks to decrease the amount of materials used, redesign products and materials to require fewer resources, and recycle trash as a resource to make new materials and products.

The seven priority barangays include Rosary Heights 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and Poblacion 4, identified as having poor waste management practices such as open burning, dumping in creeks and water bodies, as well as non-segregation of waste.

Also covered in the project are the schools of Sero Central Elementary, PCH Hill Elementary, Notre Dame Village Central Elementary, and Vilo Central Elementary.

Macapagat also emphasized that the project will also look into the existing solid waste management plans of the LGUs in this city to further help them enhance and improve their respective solid waste management plans.

“We will come up with priority activities na makatutulong duon sa pag-manage ng solid waste. Kasama rito 'yung mga trainings, pag-intindi sa circular economy at kung ano pa 'yung mga option na maaaring gawin na hindi lang disposal, but pwede pa natin ma-recycle into a more productive product yung mga waste na tinatapon na natin,” Macapagat further explained.

[We will come up with priority activities that will help in managing solid waste. This includes training, understanding the circular economy, and what other options can be done that are not just disposal, but we can recycle the waste that we throw away into a more productive product.]

The project is also expected to pave the way for the creation of livelihood opportunities through the recycling of products and the introduction of alternative means for managing biodegradable waste.

Meanwhile, Mojahida Salendab Omar-Abrasado, chairperson of Barangay Rosary Heights 4, said that this project would be a great help to improve their solid waste management practices and to take action against global warming.

“We believe that this project will help us in the proper disposal of our solid wastes and contribute to the overall health of our constituents,” she said. (LTB - PIA Cotabato City)