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Alaminos has the most number of MRFs-GAIA
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Prime movers of Zero Waste Alaminos named
The city’s top five implementers of Republic Act 9003 better known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 were finally known in a simple awarding rite held at the city hall grounds just today.
Ruth Anne A. Larracas, Regional Director of Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the city government’s partner in the attainment of “Zero Waste Alaminos," has identified the outstanding barangays namely Sta. Maria, Baley-daan, Bisocol, Tawin-Tawin and Polo.
City administrator Wilmer Panabang and Anna Demant of Planet Wheeler Foundation, who came all the way from Australia, lead the awarding of plaque of recognitions and cash prizes to the winners.
They were accompanied by City Vice Mayor Cesar Manzano, City General Services Officer and City Engineer-Designate Ismael Najera and Laracas.
Brgy. Sta. Maria received a plastic shredder worth P100, 000 while the 2nd to 5th placers were given cash prizes amounting to P10, 000, P 8, 500, P7, 500 and P 6, 000, respectively.
GAIA, a global civil society network that is championing Zero Waste as a vehicle for health, environmental and climate protection and for green jobs and enterprises, is the city’s partner in achieving a “Zero Waste Alaminos City”.
It continues to push for Zero Waste in other parts of the country as an alternative to the current waste disposal practices of incineration and land filling.
Just recently, GAIA has conducted a 3-day evaluation to monitor the compliance of the city’s 39 barangays on the specific key requirements of RA 9003.
The said evaluation also seeks to offer the barangays concrete and individualized suggestions on how they can improve their waste management programs.
It likewise seeks to determine the best-performing barangays and barangay officials and give them due credit they deserve for helping Alaminos’ efforts to go Zero Waste.
According to Engr. Najera GAIA is already moving towards the end of its second year partnership with the city government.
“Together with GAIA, we have almost completed our consultations in the barangays and city residents as far as the implementation of RA 9003 is concerned,” he stressed.
In 2009, Mayor Hernani Braganza and representatives of GAIA entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to achieve a “Zero Waste Alaminos City” in the future.
For almost two years now, the Zero Waste Alaminos City project with the help of EcoWaste Coalition and Planet Wheeler Foundation had boosted up the efforts under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act with a Zero Waste policy and action plan.
“We are very happy to announce that we have seen the huge efforts of Alaminos officials, barangay leaders and residents in implementing RA 9003,” stressed Larracas.
“So far, there are 30 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) that have already been constructed out of 39 barangays in the city,” added the Zero Waste Alaminos Project Coordinator.
“This gives Alaminos the honor of having the most number of MRFs in the province of Pangasinan.”
Larracas disclosed that after concluding its massive consultation in the communities there next step is to educate tourists and guests of the city about Alaminos’ efforts to go Zero Waste.
She said GAIA and the city government be putting up billboards or signboards in major areas around the city to inform and reiterate the Alaminos vision for a Zero Waste City.
“This Zero Waste City Marker will further remind and at the same time encourage the public of their responsibility to follow waste segregation and proper solid waste disposal anywhere they are,” she continued.
Col. Panabang, on his part, congratulated in behalf of the hardworking chief executive, the winners for a job well done even as he encourage anew other village chiefs to establish their own MRF.
The city administrator also thanked and extended warm welcome to Miss Devant who came all the way from Australia just to witness the awarding ceremony and personally see the progress of the project in the city.
Likewise, our profound gratitude to our project partners GAIA, EcoWaste Coalition and foreign funder-Project Wheeler Foundation.
“We thanked our barangay leaders for supporting and embracing this initiative as well as our citymates for their commitment in helping our city among the first Zero Waste Cities in the country,” Panabang said.
“We understand that much still needs to be done but with the continued help of our partners, we will definitely achieve our common goal of a Zero Waste Alaminos,” he finally quipped. (CIO)
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