Trash for rice: Toledo barangays spearhead waste-to-resource program

CEBU, Philippines — Two barangays in Toledo City, Cebu Province have introduced an innovative waste-to-resource exchange program that is helping reshape community waste management while addressing food insecurity among low-income households.

Under the “Basura Mo, Bigas Ko” (Your Trash, My Rice) initiative, residents of Barangays Cabitoonan and Bato can exchange two kilograms of plastic waste for one kilogram of rice.

The program, which began in 2021, has since grown in participation and impact, turning waste reduction into a tangible community benefit.

Barangay Cabitoonan Captain Gerardo Malazarte said the program was born out of necessity.

“We saw how unmanaged plastic waste was becoming a major issue in our barangay. At first, there was hesitancy, but people soon realized that their garbage could literally be converted into food. That was a game-changer,” he explained.

To fund the rice incentives, the barangay allocates P50,000 annually from its Solid Waste Management Fund.

However, to sustain the initiative amid growing demand, support from the private sector has become critical.

One of the key partners is Therma Visayas, Inc., (TVI) a subsidiary of AboitizPower, which has committed to supplying rice quarterly to both barangays.

“We saw the program’s sustainability and grassroots impact. It was initiated by the community, so we felt it was worth supporting—especially if the only barrier to its continuity was funding for rice,” said Emalyn Sevilla, TVI Environmental Supervisor.

By the second quarter of 2025, the initiative had already collected and recycled more than 33,000 kilograms of plastic waste, helping reduce environmental pressure while incentivizing behavioral change among residents.

For many beneficiaries, the program is a lifeline.

“This has been a big help to families like mine who struggle to make ends meet,” said resident Rufino Pahaganas. Others noted that the initiative has significantly improved waste segregation habits in their households.

Captain Malazarte added, “People have become more mindful. They now keep plastic waste separately, knowing it has value.”

The “Basura Mo, Bigas Ko” program illustrates how localized circular economy models, when supported by both public and private stakeholders, can yield social, environmental, and economic dividends.