THREE public schools in Talisay City were awarded school supplies, while a barangay was given sacks of rice and canned goods for cleaning up their surroundings by collecting plastic waste.

A program dubbed as “Basura Mo, Panginabuhian Ko,” gives these incentives to barangays, puroks and public schools for showing initiatives to collect the trash.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. gave the school principals of Jaclupan Elementary School (ES), Jaclupan National High School and Bulacao National High School (NHS) 42 packs of school supplies.

Of the packs, 30 went to Jaclupan ES, eight to Bulacao NHS and four to Jaclupan NHS.

Gullas also awarded Barangay Tabunok with 35 kilos of rice and 16 pieces of canned goods.

Lagrimas Abarquez, head of the city’s Solid Waste Management Office, said a formal turnover was made to encourate other barangays, puroks and schools to clean up their surroundings.

The program which requires participants to collect a kilo of plastic waste in exchange for one kilo of rice and a canned good began in September last year.

For students, a kilo of plastic waste collected equals 10 points.

If a student is able to accumulate 50 points, a set of school supplies from the city is given.

“I had one thing in mind, changing our fellow Talisaynon’s mindsets when it comes to how they properly dispose their waste. This is only a start. We hope that more barangays, puroks and public schools will follow suit. We will continue to implement measures to ensure that we promote cleanliness in our City and make it more liveable for all,” Gullas said. (FMD / JKV)