Pampanga First District Representative Congressman "Pogi" Lazatin, Jr. has taken a significant step toward national environmental and social reform by filing House Bill No. 7781. This proposed legislation calls for the integration of the innovative 'Walang Plastikan, Palit-Bigas' Program into the ten-year Solid Waste Management Plans of all provinces, cities, and municipalities throughout the Philippines. The bill operates under the framework of Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which sets the legal groundwork for sustainable waste practices in the country.
Institutionalizing a Proven Local Initiative
HB 7781 aims to institutionalize a program that was successfully implemented in Angeles City from 2022 to 2024, during Lazatin's tenure as city mayor. The 'Walang Plastikan: Plastic-Palit-Bigas Program' allowed residents to exchange one kilogram of plastic waste for one kilogram of rice, providing a tangible incentive for community participation in waste reduction efforts. Lazatin expressed his aspiration to expand this impactful initiative to the entire nation, leveraging its dual benefits of addressing hunger among marginalized sectors and promoting effective waste management.
Core Objectives and Mechanisms
The program is designed with multiple strategic goals in mind. Primarily, it seeks to promote segregation at the source, encouraging households to separate plastic waste from other trash. Additionally, it aims to increase diversion rates through reuse, recycling, and recovery processes, ultimately reducing the volume of residual waste that requires disposal. By linking environmental action with social welfare, the incentive-based mechanism tackles two pressing issues simultaneously: solid waste management and hunger alleviation.
Under the proposed bill, all local government units, through their respective Local Solid Waste Management Boards, would be required to integrate the Walang Plastikan Program as a key component of their ten-year SWM Plans. They must adopt implementing guidelines tailored to local conditions, which may include eligibility requirements for participants, exchange rates or point systems for plastic-to-rice conversions, collection schedules, and coordination with barangay Materials Recovery Facilities or other authorized facilities. This flexible approach ensures the program can be adapted to diverse community needs while maintaining its core mission.
Funding and Historical Context
The program originated in Angeles City in 2022, with substantial financial backing to support its implementation. A total of P90 million was allocated in the city's Annual Investment Program for that year, followed by P100 million in 2023, and another P90 million in 2024. These investments underscore the program's scale and the commitment to its success. Lazatin emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the initiative, stating, "Walang magugutom. Walang kalam ang tiyan. No one goes to bed hungry," highlighting its role in combating food insecurity.
By proposing HB 7781, Lazatin is pushing for a nationwide adoption of a model that has demonstrated effectiveness at the local level. The bill represents a proactive approach to environmental policy, combining practical waste reduction strategies with social incentives to foster broader community engagement. If passed, it could set a precedent for innovative, integrated solutions to complex societal challenges across the Philippines.
