IT’S just the first two days of its operation, but the bio-fence installed in the coastal barangay of Sawang Calero, Cebu City has already collected 11.9 tons of garbage.

Made of plastic water bottles, the bio-fence is submerged underwater to act as garbage-collecting barriers.

The project is spearheaded by former councilor Nida Cabrera, who now heads the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO).

The bio-fence, she said, will help prevent trash from going to the open sea and harming marine life.

Together with the Department of Public Services, CCENRO will soon expand the project to other coastal areas, such as Barangays Ermita and Suba, and in the city’s rivers.

Grace Luardo, head of the City’s “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” program, said they’ve distributed 1,800 cans of sardines to 39 street dwellers and out-of-school youth from last Monday to Tuesday in exchange for the trash they took out of the bio-fence.

Around 1,800 sardine cans were distributed to 30 individuals last Monday. Another 400 cans were distributed on Tuesday.

Seven open dump trucks were filled with garbage over the last two days. Each truck has a capacity of 1.7 tons. FVQ