On behalf of Mayor Lazatin, Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas on October 19, 2021 met with Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, City Engineer Donato Dizon, and Angeles City Traffic Development Officer-in-Charge Francis Pangilinan to iron out the details of the program’s guidelines and mechanics.

They were joined by Gender and Development Officer Mina Cabiles, Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer Irish Bonus-Llego, and Jon Pabalan of City Treasurer’s Office.

The program is aimed to encourage Angeleño households to practice waste segregation at source, in their own homes, as well as to reduce if not eliminate the use of plastics.

Dubbed as “Walang Plastikan Bigas Palit Project,” Lazatin’s Chief Adviser Calaguas said the city government will collect recyclable plastics from Angeleño households in exchange for rice.

Calaguas said P100 million out of the P204-M budget allotted yearly for Waste Segregation Management will be used to purchase rice and equipment needed for the upcoming project, including a designated storage area and redemption trucks roaming around the 33 barangays daily that will serve as the barter station.

The plastics collected will then be sold to companies recycling plastic for hollow blocks and cement. (City Information Office-Angeles City)