OFFICIALS OF the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in the Zamboanga del Sur town of Kumalarang town have initiated a program that will enable residents to exchange their plastic bottles for free internet access.
SK Chairperson Lorenzo Gomonit of Barangay Poblacion, Kumalarang, said the program launch on Nov. 24 primarily targets young people who may trade two kilos of plastic bottles in exchange for an hour of internet browsing at a partner internet café in the town.
In an interview on Monday, Gomonit said the scheme aims to help effectively manage waste in their village.
“We wanted to help in decreasing the waste collection in the municipality, and trading something out of the recyclable materials encouraged not just the adults, but especially the youth in making use of the recyclables in their homes,” he said.
He said the new scheme is related to their ongoing project of collecting plastic bottles in exchange for grocery items.
Gomonit said they are also in the planning stage for the launching of a household-level education program on proper waste disposal, specifically targeting plastic materials that are known to be harmful to the environment. (By Leah Agonoy)