‘Sardines for trash’ a success — Gabuya

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. considers the “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko,” a program meant to address the city’s garbage problem, a success.

The councilor said residents learn to keep their communities clean by segregating their garbage and not throwing them in waterways.

“Yes, effective kaayo because people learn to throw their garbage directly to the compactor truck and they kept their garbage until the truck comes,” he said.

The program, which was launched in March 2017, provides incentives to the residents to clean their surroundings,

Under the program, a resident receives two cans of sardines for every sack of garbage collected and a third can for a smaller plastic bag.

Barangays Lahug and Cogon Pardo were the program’s pilot areas.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña implemented the program to instill discipline among his residents.

He patterned the “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” after a similar program in the City of Curitiba in Brazil, where garbage collection was a major problem.

Under the Curitiba program, bus tokens are given to residents for segregated garbage delivered to the truck.

With the program, the city hopes to lessen the volume of garbage that usually ends up in the rivers and creeks, and eventually into the sea.

Pieces of garbage clog waterways, which can lead to floods during heavy rains.

City Hall’s Department of Public Services (DPS), the implementing office, purchased at least 274,247 cans of sardines from March 2017 to March this year.

The city spent at least P5 million for the purchase of sardines. The budget was taken from city’s the Accelerated Social Amelioration Program funds.

The beneficiaries are from the villages of Cogon Pardo, Lahug, Guadalupe, Labangon, Pasil, Kasambagan, Basak San Nicolas, Buhisan, and Mabolo.

With the positive impact of the program, Gabuya is eyeing to expand the distribution areas.

Cebu City, a booming metropolis, has 80 barangays. Only 20 percent of the land area is classified as urban and the rest are mountainous and hinterlands. (FREEMAN)