Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival announced a new waste management program called 'Basura Namo, Kaugmaon Nato' (Our Garbage, Our Future) in partnership with public schools, aiming to involve students in reducing household waste. The program targets approximately 135,000 students enrolled in public schools, who will be encouraged to practice proper waste segregation at home.
Garbage in the Bottle Initiative
Under the program, students will participate in the 'Garbage in the Bottle' initiative, where they store household waste in bottles and bring the filled bottles to school once a week. In exchange, the City Government will provide incentives. Mayor Archival stated, 'The students will receive incentives, instead of all the money going to the landfill. This is more sustainable because we can just sell whatever we can collect from the children.'
Budget Allocation for 2027
The City Government plans to allocate at least 500 million pesos in 2027 for student incentives. The initiative aims to reduce the city's reliance on landfills and lower waste disposal costs. Currently, Cebu City hauls waste to a permitted disposal facility in Aloguinsan, Cebu, at a cost of P3,906 per ton—more than triple the P1,100 per ton previously spent at the Binaliw landfill.
Addressing the Waste Crisis
The program recognizes the critical role of the younger generation in addressing the city's waste management challenges. By managing waste at the household level, the city hopes to promote proper disposal practices and reduce the volume of waste transported to landfills. The mayor emphasized that this approach is more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run.
