The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Northern Mindanao has partnered with two barangays in Cagayan de Oro City to undertake a pilot project to install trash traps along Bitan-ag Creek as part of the effort to tackle the growing solid waste problem in the area.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between DENR Region 10 Executive Director Henry A. Adornado and chairpersons Julito D. Ogsimer and Rexie A. Tinampay of Barangays Lapasan and Puntod, respectively.
Under the MOA, the DENR and the barangays will install and maintain two units of trash traps in Bitan-ag Creek to prevent garbage from flowing into rivers and seas.
The project also aims to motivate coastal communities to innovate local solutions to address solid waste, and to promote an income-generating, community-based enterprise.
Bitan-ag Creek is one of Cagayan de Oro’s major drainage lines which cuts across the city’s main business district at Limketkai Center.
According to Adornado, the project will help mitigate the flow of trash into Macajalar Bay.
The DENR, he said, has observed during its cleanup activities that the Bitan-ag Creek along Lapasan and Puntod deposits the biggest volume of wastes to Macajalar Bay.
“We see the Trash Trap Project in Bitan-ag Creek as an innovative solution to this issue, in partnership with all of you,” Adornado said during the MOA signing held at the DENR-Region 10 office last Oct. 14.
“I am confident that with your strong commitment, manifested by the signing of the MOA today, we will be able to attain our objective in the name of public service,” he added.
To construct the trash traps, 57,000 pieces of PET bottles will be collected by the DENR through its Trash for Rice Campaign.
The Trash Trap project is in support of DENR’s Tayo ang Kalikasan advocacy campaign and the multi-stakeholder project “Challenge for Change Program: CDO Limpyo Dagat Initiative,” which includes the DENR regional office.
Aside from setting up trash traps, DENR Region 10 shall supervise the implementation of the project, provide funds for the honorarium of two trash trap caretakers of Barangay Lapasan, and capacitate the local government units for the operation of the trash traps in coordination with the Environmental Management Bureau.
For their part, Barangays Lapasan and Puntod shall coordinate with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office for trash recovery and disposal, and promote the development of community-based enterprises.
The two barangays shall designate a permanent focal person, hire caretakers, and monitor the weekly volume of trash, and mobilize zone leaders and the community to conduct regular clean-up activities. They shall also implement information, education, and communication campaign, among others.
For the year 2022, Region 10 is projected to generate 604,952 kilograms of solid waste per day based on the 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan of Cagayan de Oro City. ###
