Garbage is replaced by aid in Mandaluyong

Concern for the environment is equally helpful in the so-called “community palit-basura” of a barangay in Mandaluyong City.

Hundreds of residents went to the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School this Tuesday, carrying heavy sacks containing wrappers and plastic sachets to be exchanged for aid.

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Residents can exchange up to 10 kilos each.

Some also brought dozens of liter bottles of soft drinks that were also stuffed with plastics.

The aid provided includes kilos of rice, vegetables, and other food from the barangay and donations.

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According to some residents, they helped to collect the plastics so even the aid will be shared.

“Ginupit gupit po namin, sa mga kapitbahay pinagugupit na rin namin para makaipon… ‘yong kapitbahay namin binibigyan ko rin ng mga gulay,” said resident Michelle Perla.

According to barangay chief Carlito Cernal, the purpose of the project is to reduce the accumulated garbage from Addition Hills in Mandaluyong with an incentive for residents.

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The barangay estimates that thousands of tons of plastic are thrown at them, especially since they are the largest barangay in the city.

Also read: Mandaluyong schools turned into vaccination centers

Garbage is replaced by aid in Mandaluyong

The barangay also adopted the theme of the project to the slogan of the trending community pantry.

“Mayroon slogan doon, ‘Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha ayon sa pangangailangan’. Ginawa ko naman, ‘Magbigay para sa kalinisan ng kapaligiran, kumuha ayon sa nakalaan,’” said Cernal.

“Kumuha sa nakalaan, bakit? Kasi, kunwari ay dala mo 5 kilo ng ginupit so ‘yon lang ang puwede mong makuhang kapalit na pagkain. Pero kung more than that, 10 kilos, so mas marami ang madadalang pagkain,” he said.

The project has been launched in 2019.

It was also enforced even after a lockdown last year to help the residents.

The barangay also has its own community pantry but it is temporarily closed for the garbage exchange project that will be held all day on Tuesday.

The accumulated garbage will be recycled in the barangay itself using an eco-brick machine to make it more useful.

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