BONTOC, Mountain Province –The sangguniang bayan here has passed an ordinance for the institutionalization of the Oplan Pera sa Basura program after implementing it for the past years.
The program aims to effectively reduce the volume of garbage in the capital town and instill proper waste management and promote cooperation among school children to reduce waste in schools and the municipality.
Ordinance 347, s. 2021 or the Oplan Pera sa Basura Ordinance sponsored by Councilor Alsannyster Patingan provides the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office shall implement the program and shall be available to all schools in the municipality.
Patingan proposed the ordinance since the program has been successful in the reduction and management of waste and as additional funds for the participating schools and to ensure its continuity despite future changes in the administration.
Recognizing the importance of proper waste management, Mayor Franklin Odsey approved the ordinance.
“Proper waste management is essential in maintaining a livable and sustainable environment. Thus, this program would help not only the participating schools but also the municipality as a whole,” the mayor said.
The Menro shall come up with operational guidelines for the program and coordinate with registered junk shop operators to purchase the collected recyclable materials directly from the participating schools.
The local government unit shall also provide P12,000, P9,000, P7,000 for the first, second, and third prizes, respectively.
An amount of P5,000 shall also be given to each participant that was able to collect the minimum weight of recyclable waste provided in the operational guidelines.
The ordinance authorizes the mayor to increase, but not to decrease, the prizes and incentives through an executive order.
The municipal government shall also coordinate with the registered junk shop operator to buy the recyclable materials directly from the participating schools after the recyclable wastes had been weighed and recorded.
The proceeds of the sale of the collected recyclable materials shall be given to the participating school selling the same.
The Oplan Pera sa Basura Ordinance of 2021 took effect in January 2022. – Christy Mae F. Che-es and Alpine L. Killa
April 20, 2024
