Garbage collection: Badjaos’ schedule known this week

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Department of Public Services will decide within the week on the regular schedule of garbage collection by the Badjao community in Barangay Mambaling as part of the city’s “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” project.

DPS Assistant Head John Paul Gelasque said they have to set specific day for the collection so the Badjaos would know when they are going to collect trash and debris in the coastal areas of the city.

He said that once the schedule has been set, they would deploy at least two compactor trucks to where the Badjaos live in Mambaling.

DPS, he said, would also assign personnel to facilitate the distribution of sardines to every participating Badjaos, who shall get a can of sardines for every plastic bag of trash.

On April 28, DPS tapped the Badjaos for the “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” by initiating a clean-up drive, when the Badjaos received 12 boxes of sardines for the three to four tons of garbage they collected.

The project was piloted in barangays Cogon Pardo and Lahug last February before the Badjaos were contacted to help. The city has already purchased P5 million worth of sardines charged to the Accelerated Social Amelioration Program funds.

While he could not yet divulge how many cans of sardines have been distributed already,  Gelasque attributed the increase in the volume of collected garbage from 500 tons to 675 tons a day to the project.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña adapted the scheme from what he saw in Curitiba, Brazil where it was effectively implemented.  (FREEMAN)