By Khyrus Santos, Althea Barranta and John Faigao
GUIGUINTO, Bulacan – The Municipality of Guiguinto celebrates the 6th Refill Revolution held at the Guiguinto Municipal Athletic and Cultural Center and the 5th Recyclables Collection Event of Hazardous and Electronic Wastes at the Guiguinto Municipal Arena on July 9, Tuesday.
The event first started in Clark, Pampanga in 2001 and it was adopted by the Municipality of Guiguinto in 2018 as this program aims to promote protection and conservation of the environment and showcase the “Green Revolution” of the town.
Guiguinto Mayor Atty. Agatha “Agay” Paula Cruz emphasizes the challenges in implementing proper waste segregation in the households of Guiguinto. She also added that lack of discipline and compassion can lead to no results in implementing programs. “Inggit na inggit tayo [sa] Japan, [South] Korea, bakit napakalinis nila? Ano lang po ang nakakalungkot na sagot? Kulang po tayo sa malasakit at disiplina.” Mayor Cruz said. She also reminds her fellow citizens and asks for help to promote and achieve their goal of clean and healthy of the town’s environment.
Meanwhile, Atty. Julius Victor Degala of Bulacan Environment Natural Resources Office (BENRO) praised the efforts of the local government of the said town to maintain and promote the environment. “Nakakatuwa po na [may] ganitong programa ay nagpapatuloy at nagpapakita sa ating [mga] kalalawigan na kinakailangan mayroon may magmalasakit para sa ating kapaligiran,” He said.
Atty. Degala also wishes for the program to also be implemented in other towns of Bulacan. “Sana po ay ikalat pa po natin [ang programa] sa ibang bayan at sa ibang lungsod ng lalawigan ng Bulacan.”
The event, other than showing the achievements of the municipality environmentally, promoted the solidarity between the officials and the citizens as steel tanks filled with dishwashing liquid, vinegar, fabric conditioner, and soy sauce were opened to the public to get a free refill with as many bottles or gallons as they can hold.
The program also presented the ways they utilized typical trash such as plastics in various materials such as cement tiles, or even with hazardous trash such as discarded personal computer parts, which they will reuse into many things.
The event also showcases recyclable products such as bokashi balls, eco brinks, eco hollow blocks, coconut dust, and other products that can help for environment sustainability and conservation. In an interview with the media, Head of Guiguinto Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office Engr. Sudan Carreon shared the achievements of the program throughout the years. “Ang kagandahan po, ang ibang MENRO, yung ibang bayan nagaya na kami. Kami yung start na gumawa ng mga eco bricks, gumawa kami ng bokashi [balls], gumawa kami ng refill revolution. Kami yung nagstart…ngayon nagagaya na” she said.
