Lawmakers in Angeles City are urging residents to participate in an initiative that converts plastic waste into armchairs and garbage bins.
First District Representative Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II and Councilor Edu Pamintuan called for the expansion of the “Lunes Malinis” program from schools to residential communities.
The program, led by Eco Protect Management Corporation (EPMC), enlists students to collect single-use plastic sachets from their homes.
EPMC collects the waste every Monday, processes it into armchairs and trash bins, and donates them back to its partner schools.
During the program’s launch at EPZA Resettlement Elementary School and Northville 15 Elementary School recently, Lazatin said involving households could help address waste management issues and provide more chairs for students.
“Waste is a national concern. If each household participates, we can gradually help reduce waste while also supplying schools with new chairs,” Lazatin said.
He urged barangays and households to support the initiative by collecting and donating plastic waste.
Pamintuan said the program aligns with the city’s waste segregation ordinance.
“As the author of the plastic and waste segregation ordinance, I appreciate the involvement of private organizations in strengthening this advocacy,” he said.
He also suggested that the city government adopt the initiative to support its “Plastic Palit Bigas” program.
Since February, EPMC’s “Lunes Malinis” program has partnered with over a dozen public elementary schools in the City of San Fernando and Angeles City.
The company is set to donate 500 armchairs made from collected plastic sachets to participating schools.