(By Sr. M. Guadalupe Bautista, RGS - Baguio City)
Mountain Maid Training Training Center was given recognition recently
by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its best practices
on Solid Waste Management.
The DENR held it first summit on Best
Practices on Solid Waste Management in the Cordilleras last July 27 to 29,
2016 in Baguio City.
Representatives from Local Government Units, Non Government Organizations
and individuals participated in the summit. There were more than three hundred (300) participants. DENR launched its search for best
practices two months ago.
Among the NGOs who were recognized in
implementing Republic Act 2003, the law
passed in the year 2000 on Solid Waste Management were Maryknoll
Ecological Sanctuary and Mountain Maid Training
Center. Dr. Julie Cabato known for her advocacy in protecting the environment was also an awardee.
Mr.
Jessie Opilas, our “vermi man” and Sr. Guadalupe Bautista represented Mt. Maid Trainning Center in the summit.
Included in the presentation of the power point were the following points:
Ø In
2008, the Irisan dumpsite reached it breaking point and collapsed causing the
loss of lives and properties in Irisan. This prompted us to seriously
manage our “thrash” and lessen the garbage collected by the city government.
Ø The
education and training of staff and
student workers ; the setting up of Material Resources Facilities; the sorting of recyclables and sold to junk
shops; the introduction of African Night Crawlers for vermi composting were concrete actions to live the Province ‘s vision of “fullness of life where there is justice,
peace and integrity of creation”.
Ø Peelings of vegetables and fruits from the canteen, hostel and con vent kitchens plus the
heaps of ube or purple yam discards amounted to three (3) tons a week! During peak seasons of the
Flower Festival (February), Holy Week
(April) and Christmas the biodegradable waste reach five
tons a week. How to manage all this
organic wastes? The answer was feed the
waste to “Eugene” the friendly worm and transform its waste into organic
fertilizer.
Ø Other
steps taken were the installations
of solar water heaters and solar lights . Savings on electric bills is 30%.
Ø The
discipline of sorting thrash is on-going and never ending.
Ø ‘Laudato
Si’, Pope Francis encyclical on the environment continues to challenge us to protect the environment and save our planet, the only home we have.
July
31, 2016, 220th birthday of Rose Virginie Pelletier