Iloilo builds ‘Eco-Bahay’ for IP community out of trash-filled bottles

What we treat as trash could actually be converted into materials to build ecologically-friendly houses.

The Iloilo provincial government, in its campaign to reduce solid wastes, is building an “Eco-Bahay” made of trash-filled plastic bottles for the Indigenous People (IP) community in Barangay Pili, Calinog, Iloilo.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the groundbreaking of the project on December 6, 2021 as part of the Provincial Solid Waste Awareness Week Celebration from December 4 to 12 spearheaded by the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).

The Eco-Bahay Project was launched in 2018 in partnership with Eco-Youth Philippines using trash stuffed in plastic bottles as construction materials.

It is a realization of the three-year “Trash in a Bottle” Program of the Iloilo provincial government which is an alternative recycling activity for plastic wastes.

PGENRO Senior Environmental Management Specialist Mitzi Peñaflorida said the eco house will serve as a training center for the IP community.

Peñaflorida said Barangay Pili is just a pilot area and they plan to expand the project to other IP communities.

She appealed for donations and support from stakeholders as the project is only a voluntary movement and does not have a budget.

“There are many IP communities in Calinog and they also wish to avail of the eco house. We look forward to providing them support and bringing government assistance closer to them,” Peñaflorida said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Solid Waste Awareness Week kicked off on December 4 with a Bike-Pick-Plant (BPP) Campaign for the Environment followed by a clean-up and mangrove tree growing at Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes.

On December 7, there will be a 4th Barangay Solid Waste Management Congress to get updates from barangays on their implementation of SWM program.

An Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Congress will be held on December 8 which will serve as a venue for sharing successful projects in upland areas.

The 5th Provincial SWM Summit on December 9 will showcase LGU initiatives and best practices on solid waste management.

The highlight of the celebration is the awarding of outstanding LGUs on ecological and sustainable SWM system (E+3S) and Tanum Iloilo Challenge participants on December 10, 2011. (LHC/Capitol news)