BACK TO SEGREGATION
- Published on Wednesday, 07 September 2011 03:28
- Category: Barangay Affairs
By Nerissa Bayan
In Psychology, there is a known phrase “the return of the repressed” which is often used for emotions or feelings which have not been recognized until left for oblivion, but in time shows itself through unconscious actions of the individual who has repressed the said emotion or feeling for so long. Similarly, the onslaught of typhoon “Mina” has once again awakened the reality that garbage still persists to be the problem of the city.
The city government has been doing efforts to address the matter; however, still with the absence of a city owned engineered sanitary landfill (ESL), garbage remains as a more pressing problem than before, following the damage to the retaining wall holding the Irisan dumpsite. But it must be realized that this garbage problem is not the problem of the government alone, more so, the blame is not left to it solely, but, to every individual who has consumed goods and any materials, which after consumption has been left for disposal. Each one of us has a contribution in the pile of garbage resting at the Irisan dumpsite.
At present, the urgency lies more in finding solutions to address the matter rather than picking to whom the finger shall be pointed to, as there is a time for everything. Here then comes the role of every individual who resides in the city and who, although denied, serves as a contributor to the incessant production of waste materials which in simpler terms is garbage.
We can all do so much, but every little contribution from every individual to address the matter, when gathered becomes a bulk which could undeniably make a difference. And so, we are once again back to the “new” matter which we all again need to be familiarized with… waste segregation.
This is not new anymore to the ears, but could be new through action, as it goes against years of daily practice where a garbage can/bin lying at the sidewalk or inside the homes serve as a receptacle for containing garbage, regardless of whether it is “nabubulok” or “di-nabubulok”. But given the garbage situation the city is presently in, we are left with no choice but to try hard enough to learn this “new” matter immediately, if only to somehow minimize the pile of garbage that will be hauled out of the city.
The environmental recycling system (ERS) machines lying in Irisan may not be the ultimate solution to the garbage problem, but for now, we just have to do with what we have. With proper waste segregation of “nabubulok” and “di nabubulok”, the weight of residual wastes would most likely be reduced. And the challenge of implementing this system is once again lodged to the barangay officials.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011, Hon. Joel Alangsab, Liga President-Baguio City, called for an urgent meeting to gather the punong barangays and the barangay kagawads on the Committee on Health and Sanitation or Committee on Clean and Green, to discuss the implementation of the proper waste segregation procedures as the two-truck system for garbage collection shall be effective immediately. To ensure that efforts of every household in faithfully complying with the proper waste segregation procedure would not be set aside, a garbage truck shall be deployed to collect wastes/garbage which are “nabubulok”, and a separate truck shall collect the “di-nabubulok” wastes.
The responsibility shall primarily be lodged to the households to observe proper waste segregation, and secondly to the barangay officials who must ensure that the garbage being brought out for collection are properly segregated before it is tossed up the truck. With everybody doing their part, there is hope that the amount of garbage collected and hauled out shall be reduced.
But the obligation of each household does not end there. We are likewise all challenged to go green, and that is to limit the use of plastics as much as we can. The city has been criticized for not being able to implement non/limited use of plastic, but once again, this “new” matter is going against the convenience that we have all enjoyed for the longest time. But there are efforts such as livelihood programs that encourage recycling through the “pera sa basura” campaigns, as well as the introduction of green bags to be used for market and groceries. And perhaps there are other means which a simple individual could contribute. We all just need to exert a little effort to be a part of the solution. We have enjoyed Baguio as it was, cool climate, clean air, green surroundings, a home in itself… now our Baguio needs us, let us do our part to return all the good it brought us. “I love Baguio” should be more than a statement, it must be lived. ** Nerissa Bayan
