Recycling program launched on Earth Day

The Puerto Princesa City government launched Tuesday its Material Recovery Facilities Program to celebrate Earth Day in Barangay Sta. Lourdes located about 20 kms. in the northern part of the city.

The program, initiated in coordination with Mother Earth Foundation, has selected seven pilot barangays where waste segregation and recycling activities have been popularized in keeping with nature conservation efforts of the city, under the leadership of Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

“We are doing this for the next generation,” the mayor said in the launching program as he reminded the barangay folk to continue doing their share in protecting the environment “because if we abuse nature, we are also destroying our future”.

He later proceeded to Barangays San Manuel, San Pedro, Maunlad, Tagumpay, Matahimik and Tiniguiban where he inaugurated the six other sites of the conservation program.

Sonia Mendoza, chair of the Quezon City-based Mother Earth Foundation, stressed that the newly-launched program is designed to create a zero-waste management way of life among the residents as she reiterated the need for residents to commit themselves to the task of conserving the ecology.

The same crusade for zero waste in the community was reiterated by MEF trainor Mercelina Sumilang during the program held to commemorate Earth Day where Barangay Captain Lorenzo Reyes welcomed officials of the city and the six other barangays and their guests.

The celebration also included the awarding of the model barangays from among the seven communities covered by the program.

Barangay San Manuel copped the P100,000-top prize with Tiniguiban getting P75,000 and Sta. Lourdes, P50,000 as second and third placers, respectively. The four other barangays received P25,000 each.

The day was capped by the opening of the five-day “Pangalipay sa Baybay”, an extravaganza of musical, cultural and sports activities held to attract city folk to the Baywalk, the latest Puerto Princesa attraction which has risen from the ruins of a fire that razed hundreds of squatters’ homes almost four years ago at Barangay San Isidro.