2 Cebu City schools adopt waste diversion program

CEBU, Philippines — After Talamban Elementary School successfully piloted Cebu City’s student-led waste diversion program earlier this month, the initiative expanded to two more public schools with the formal launch of “Basura Namo, Kaugmaon Nato” yesterday, July 20.

Mayor Nestor Archival led the ceremony at Talamban National High School, joined by principal Juanita Geraldez, Talamban officials headed by Barangay Dario Arcilla, and Rotary International District 3680 governor Arlene Adlawan.

After the Talamban launch, a separate ceremony was held in Lahug with Archival still leading the event along with Lahug National High School (Night) principal Dr. Madelyn Tinapay, Lahug Elementary School principal Hazel Ann Empleo, and Lahug officials led by Barangay Captain Hazel Empleo.

“Pinaagi sa panagtambayayong, atong tumong nga mas daghang kabatan-onan ang mahimong kabahin sa responsableng pagdumala sa basura ug pagpanalipod sa atong kinaiyahan,” Archival said.

The program is designed to strengthen waste segregation, recycling, and environmental stewardship among students, positioning schools as models of community-based ecological discipline.

Under the program, students bring segregated biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste from their homes, often packed in bottles, for collection at school.

The city government purchases properly segregated waste with proceeds credited to class sections based on total weight collected.

Earlier, Talamban Elementary School students turned over 170.2 kilograms of waste, which was processed at the city’s ecostation.

With 135,000 public school students in Cebu City, officials said the initiative leverages the youth as agents of change in waste management. — (FREEMAN)