Village relaunches MRF Redemption Center

BACOLOD City – In answer to the call of Mayor Albee Benitez’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) Program, Brgy. Taculing led by Bgry. Captain Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen relaunched on Saturday their Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Redemption Center, which was stalled because of the pandemic and strict Covid protocols.

The program was attended by Engr. Macky Maceda, special adviser for solid waste management, together with Department of Public Services (DPS) head Ramel Palalon, OIC Ma. Fe Trespuentes and assistant department head Engr. Joel Vergara.

Engr. Maceda lauded the initiative of Brgy. Taculing officials to initiate such kind of program to “recover recyclables” particularly plastics which pollutes the environment and the oceans.

It takes up to 500 years for plastics to be completely decomposed, data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stated.

“I am happy and I’m sure Mayor Albee will be happy if he’s here because his vision is to really recover the recyclables. He always said if garbage has monetary value, it is not garbage anymore and that’s what you’re doing right now in your barangay,” Engr. Maceda said.

Engr. Maceda also described the recycling program as a “circular economy” because the materials recovered will be recycled into same or another product to be sold again to the market that contribute to the economy of the country as a whole.

“The best results of the recycling program should it succeed is for you to have a cleaner environment which will definitely affect your health and safety here in your barangay,” he emphasized.

Punong Barangay Gonzales-Pallen, on the other hand, congratulated the persons behind the program which includes barangay officials, street cleaners, eco-warriors, among others, who helped established the redemption center.

Residents are encouraged to bring their recyclables and have it weigh-in to determine the volume and its corresponding monetary value.

Basic commodities such as rice, soap, shampoo, dishwashing paste/liquid, noodles, canned goods, etc. will then be given to the individual redeemer.

Gonzales-Pallen said a mobile MRF (motorcycle) will also be deployed to roam different puroks and eskinitas to do house-to-house collection of recyclable materials.

In a meeting at PIO office with Engr. Maceda and DPS Team prior to the relaunching of the program, Gonzales-Pallen added that their barangay is ready and has the capacity to manage the MRF Redemption Center in terms of engineering and infrastructure requirements that includes an MRF Facility, Redemption Center and grocery items ready for exchange.

They also have enough manpower to do the recording and man the center located beside the Gonzaga Gym in Dona Juliana Subd. (PIO)