By Dennis Abrina/PNA
AMADEO, Cavite — The Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) waste reduction project, dubbed “Plastic palit Bigas” (plastic in exchange for rice) in Barangay Talon in this town, has gained ground and was now being praised by social media users and residents.
Barangay Talon SK village chair John Dexter Batino on Friday shared the overwhelming response from netizens and local village folks in this town after their project went viral with around 47,000 likes, 66,000 shares and 12,000 good comments on Facebook.
Batino also thanked the mainstream media for recognizing the project, which was even featured in a top-rated television news program and talk show.
He said the “Plastic palit Bigas” waste reduction initiative was hatched mid-October this year when village youth leaders encouraged residents to collect their assorted plastic wastes to rid their village of it as these were only scattered in the neighborhoods.
These trashes include “chichirya” (snack food) and candy wrappers, empty shampoo, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar sachets, among other plastic containers and receptacles.
“Huwag natin hayaan na pakalat-kalat lang sa kalsada ang ating mga basura. Ipunin at makakuha ng pang saing natin sa araw-araw (Let’s not allow garbage to be strewn along streets. We could collect them in exchange for rice for daily meal),” Batino said as he went on to encourage village residents to collect plastic waste.
Batino said they won’t accept plastic materials containing dehumidifiers since they told members and volunteers to only accept a kilo of clean plastics in exchange for a kilo of rice.
“Isa lang po ito sa mga responsableng proyekto ng mga kabataan sa Barangay Talon (This is only one of the responsible projects of the Barangay Talon youths),” he added, citing the young SK professionals they called “yuppies” are also engaged in performing village chores at the barangay hall on weekends.
“Kahit papaano, may maitutulong kaming mga kabataan sa government (In whatever ways possible, our youth sector could help the government),” Batino said, referring to their active participation in the town’s waste reduction campaign.
He also expressed appreciation to Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla for the provincial government support to the project and the private firm, which committed to provide more rice after learning of the youth project initiative.