Six trucks donated to city through EU-PH Green Economy Partnership
Six light trucks were turned-over to the city government under Mayor Benjamin Magalong in accordance with the European Union (EU) – PH Green Economy Partnership through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), December 3, at the City Hall grounds.
The donation was witnessed by representatives from the UNDP, EU, including local government and barangay officials.
The Summer Capital is one of several cities in the country chosen to be part of the initiative due to its continued efforts in implementing a circular economy (CE).
The vehicles will be handed over to Gibraltar, Guisad Central, Irisan, Bakakeng Central, Dominican-Mirador, and Happy Hallow barangays which are involved with the green economy initiative, an aspect of CE, implemented in the city.
“Baguio gets things done, and this is why it is an easy partner to work with.With the leadership of the city and barangays, a lot of the concepts that we are sharing in our friendship are much quicker, easier to implement,” Marco Gemmer, EU head of cooperation in the Philippines, said.
He added that Baguio is one of the most transparent cities in the country and that it will make good use of the vehicles.
Gemmer said the idea of tackling the plastic waste problem in the six barangays came from their respective constituents which was then submitted to the city government and forwarded to the EU-PH green economy partnership.
The General Services Office (GSO) said the donated trucks will be used to bolster efforts in plastic waste collection, empowering participating barangays to collect plastics in their respective areas.
The plastics could be turned into a source of income for the barangays since these could be shredded and processed as a refuse-derived fuel and possibly used as an additive for construction materials.
“I feel that there was a lot of interest and knowledge already of what can be done, and with a little bit of extra input, these activities can be upscaled and made to benefit more people,” Dr. Knut Ostby, resident representative and interim of the UN Development Council, said.
As the city seeks to transition into a CE from a linear economy, the Mayor said that more initiatives and programs that reduce waste and ensure that products are utilized efficiently will continue to be implemented. – Kemm Olarte, PIO Intern / Gaby Keith
