Villar tells Tondo folk: Turn garbage into useful materials

In pursuit of her advocacy to restore ecological balance in the midst of worsening environmental threats due to climate change, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar pushed residents of Baseco in Tondo, Manila to turn their garbage into useful materials as their contribution to global efforts to preserve and protect the world’s natural resources.

''There is money in garbage. Let us work together in finding ways to recycle our waste materials, which will not only help in protecting our environment but at the same time will augment your incomes,'' Villar said as she turned over handmade paper machines to the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which Baseco residents can use to make specialty handmade paper products.

Handmade papers are sheets of paper or boards produced by hand. The raw materials used for making handmade paper are waste. Handmade papermaking machines produce specialty papers.

One of the livelihood activities of residents of Gasangan Street in Baseco, Tondo is garlic peeling. In making specialty papers, they will use garlic waste as the primary material.

"We will spare our environment from waste pollutants by recycling what otherwise is already considered as garbage or thrash. By using materials other than our trees, we also spare our forests from being denuded. That’s hitting two birds with one stone: protecting the environment and adding incomes to our pockets," Villar said.

Aside from the turnover, there was also a clean-up drive and mangrove planting in the area as part of Villar’s environment advocacy. The Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources donated 200 seedlings, while also Cavitex gave 200 seedlings.

The activities were held in partnership with Villar Sipag, Public Works and Highways, Environment and Natural Resources, BFAR, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, MMDA, Maynilad, Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng Baseco and barangay officials of Gasangan.