Philippines: Villages Awarded for pushing Zero Waste in Alaminos

Barangay Sta. Maria Councilor Randy Humilde receives Organic Shredder for winning the Best Performing Barangay as part of the Zero Waste Alaminos Project. The award was presented by Anne Larracas, GAIA, Ms. Ana Demant, Planet Wheeler Foundation, Vice Mayor Cesar Manzano, GSO Officers and City Admin/Col Wilmer Panabang.

ALAMINOS CITY - The city’s top five implementers of Republic Act 9003, known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, were awarded at the City Hall grounds on November 8.

Ruth Anne A. Larracas, Regional Director of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), which is the City Government’s partner in attaining a “Zero Waste Alaminos,” identified the awardees as Barangays Sta. Maria, Baley-daan, Bisocol, Tawin-Tawin and Polo.

The awarding ceremony capped the two-year implementation of the Zero Waste Alaminos, which was started in 2009 with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the City Government and Gaia.

City administrator Wilmer Panabang and Anna Demant of Planet Wheeler Foundation, who came all the way from Australia, led the awarding of plaques of recognitions and cash prizes to the winners.

They were joined by City Vice Mayor Cesar Manzano, City General Services Officer and City Engineer-Designate Ismael Najera and Laracas.

Top placer Barangay Sta. Maria received a plastic shredder worth P100,000, while the 2nd to 5th placers were given cash prizes amounting P10,000; P 8,500; P7,500 and P6,000, respectively.

Gaia is a global civil society network championing zero waste as a vehicle for health, environmental and climate protection.

As the city’s partner in achieving “Zero Waste Alaminos City,” Gaia continues to push for zero waste in other parts of the country as an alternative to the current waste disposal practices of incineration and landfills. (PNA)