Angeles City’s Walang Plastikan — Plastik Palit Bigas project, which was launched by Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin, Jr. last year, has already collected a total of 1,776,209 kilos of plastic in a year. 

Mayor Lazatin said that these 1,776,209 kilos of plastic were exchanged for 1,776,209 kilos of rice by the residents of the 33 barangays who participated in the project. 

“Maraming salamat po sa ating mga kababayan sa efforts na makilahok po sa proyekto nating ito,” Lazatin shared. 

“While we aim to reinforce waste segregation and reduce the use of plastic, we are also offering a little reward for their effort — rice. Helping our kababayans to put food on the table,” Lazatin furthered. 

Two trucks are being deployed in the barangays via schedule with the supervision of Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office Head Irish Bonus-Llego said.

While the redemption booth in the City Hall is open every Mondays to Thursday, 8AM to 5PM. 

City Engineer Donato Dizon meanwhile explained that the collected plastics will be sold to cement companies. The earnings will be then be turned over to the City Treasurer’s Office for collection. 

Of the 33 barangays visited for the project, Barangay Balibago has the highest number of plastic-to-rice exchange — 123,592 kilos; second is Anunas with 115,671; Cutud (97,334); Cutcut (75,602); and Pulung Maragul (73,568). 

The sixth to the highest is Pulung Cacutud (60,303); seventh is Pandan (52,657); eighth is Tabun (50,960); ninth is Sapangbato (48,815); and tenth is Pampang (47,476). 

Meanwhile, the redemption booth in the city hall collected 473,732 kilos of plastic.

To recall, the city government  purchased 3 new wing vans and 4 dump trucks, which are being used by the City Engineer’s Office for the Walang Plastikan Plastik Palit Bigas Project.