“If the community will just learn how to properly segregate their wastes and donate them to respective companies or non-government organizations which collect these wastes for proper disposal, we can help not only the environment but also the progress of the economy.”

This was the reflection of Al Romano, a fifth year Environmental and Sanitary Engineering student at the Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City, during the sealing of partnership between ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan (ALKFI-BK), its partner treaters, and Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.).

Under the terms of the partnership, T.I.P. will donate used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), used oil, and electronic wastes generated in its three school sites, namely T.I.P. Quezon City, T.I.P. P. Casal, and T.I.P. Arlegui. The ULABs will be donated to Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation, used oil will be donated to Genetron International Marketing, while the electronic wastes will be received by Envirocare Management Precision, Inc. The three treater companies will be responsible for recycling and disposal of the wastes.

In photo (L-R) Reno Entico (Vice President of Envirocare Management Precision, Inc.), Engr. Jocelyn Panen (Technical Sales Director of Genetron International Marketing), Rita Regalado (ULAB Supervisor of Oriental &Motolite Marketing Corporation), Dr. Elizabeth Quirino-Lahoz (President of Technological Institute of the Philippines), Angelita Lara (Chief Finance and Services Officer of ABS-CBN LingkodKapamilya Foundation, Inc.), Paul Vincent Mercado (Central Marketing Head of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc.), Dr. Elizabeth Pader (Managing Head of T.I.P. Environmental Management Team).

All equivalent monetary values of the recovered wastes will be given by the treater companies to ALKFI-BK to support its environmental advocacies. Bantay Kalikasan has been at the forefront of promoting environmental stewardship nationwide and has supported and empowered communities by providing sustainable livelihood.

During the signing of the memorandum of agreement, Bantay Kalikasan Program Director, Jen Deomano Santos, expressed deep appreciation for the worthy efforts of T.I.P. to partner in protecting and preserving the environment. She likewise challenged the students to do their share in environmental protection.“For the students here, always put in mind that you can make a difference and I know your teachers here will always give you that opportunity to make that difference,” she expressed.

“One of the greatest gifts that I received from my teachers, which I always say to them when I meet them, is that they always made me feel that I can make a difference. They taught me not just how to do my Math, Science, Algebra, or Calculus problems, but more importantly they made me believe that I can use these to be part of a greater good,” she said in ending.

To know more about Bantay Kalikasan and to donate your hazardous wastes, visit www.bantaykalikasan.com.