To provide assistance and, in line with the simultaneous activity of the Community Passion (ComPassion) Project, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) through the Environmental Management Bureau, Region 10 (EMB 10), facilitated the “Trash-to-Bugas” program initiative courtesy of DENR 10 Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) to mark the 50th Founding Anniversary of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) on November 14, 2023 in Barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City.

The “Trash-to-Bugas” initiative encourages individuals and industry partners to collect and segregate properly solid wastes in compliance with the Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000, and Republic Act 11898 otherwise known as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022.

DENR 10 Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Ma. Theresa J. Allen expressed her gratitude to the barangay council of Puntod headed by its newly elected Barangay Chairman Alexis Dacer for the manifestation of support to the programs of the DENR as well as for the various women’s organizations in the barangay who are the prime beneficiary target of this project. She also thanked the presence of DENR personnel, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), and partner industries the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) and the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Incorporated, and Macabalan Porters Association.

“We want to strengthen the partnership and operationalize the EPR Law through the leadership of Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry Adornado and Regional Director (RD) Reynaldo Digamo together with other eight industry partners and identify respective responsibilities to sustain our ComPassion Project anchoring on the EPR and of course with the participation of the community” said DENR 10 ARD for Management Services Ma. Theresa J. Allen.

A representative from CLENRO Mr. Ed Naguio said that the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cagayan de Oro fully supports the initiative of the DENR on the “Trash-to-Bugas” project as this would help the city’s campaign project to lessen the volume of plastics and eventually eliminate and prevent plastics from leading to the sea.

EMB 10 Regional Director Reynaldo S. Digamo emphasized that the ComPassion Project is based on the five pillars of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

He also urged the community to engage and practice solid waste segregation and challenged the barangay council of Puntod to take responsibility for monitoring and rehabilitating one of the areas in the barangay that already served as the dumping site.

The “Trash-to-Bugas” initiative was participated in by 64 residents of which a total weight of 280.42 kilograms of plastic wastes were collected in exchange of 202 kilograms of rice or 101 rice bags.

The ComPassion Project promotes community-based services that empower and creatively address the needs of various sectors and constituents in effective and significant ways that support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. This also highlights the advocacy of the Department’s mission and vision to reach out to the community and provide opportunities, training and support, as well as resources for community projects. (RSCIG No. 11-320-2023)