ORMOC CITY – Kinabuhing Lunhaw, a local non-profit group and environmental activist that aims to promote sustainable living choices through art, teamed up with the Naungan Fisherfolks Association (NAFIAS) and the Solid Waste Workers Association of Barangay Ipil (SWWABI) earlier this March to launch and operationalize their zero-waste refilling stations to be placed in their respective barangays.
NAFIAS and SWWABI are community-based organizations (CBOs) supported by the Healthy Oceans Clean Cities Initiative (HOCCI) Project in partnership with UN-Habitat Philippines and funded by the people of Japan.
The project aims to reduce marine plastic litter by implementing the City Plan of Action on the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter (CPOA-ML).
Accordingly, every product is consciously handpicked with sustainability and practicality in mind.
Starting up a zero-waste refilling station is part of both CBOs’ 3Rs social enterprise plans. These refilling stations will greatly help reduce the amount of sachets generated by households, which include cleaning supplies such as dishwashing liquid, liquid detergents, and fabric conditioner, among others. The City Government of Ormoc is one with the world in helping save the environment from the destructive and negative impacts of marine plastic pollution, as it is one of the six partner cities of HOCCI, along with Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Calapan, Legazpi, and Davao. By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail March 13-19, 2023 issue)
