BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Bontoc Municipal Government is eyeing to double its production of eco-blocks and to make flower vases/pots out from collected garbage.
This, following the donation of Plastic Densifier amounting to P268,900.00 and Electric Moulding Machine costing P312,800.00 by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Provincial Office to the municipal government on September 26, 2018, at the new Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Environmental Management Specialist Roger Agcapen of the Bontoc –LGU said that the machines are now placed at the Solid Waste Management (SWM) facility at Am-ancho, Bontoc Ili; and to be operated by the personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).
Agcapen explained that the mixer and the electric molding machine are designed for the production of eco-blocks. The mixer which is run by diesel machine can hold at least one bag of cement, two cans of crushed bottles, and 10 cans of sand. After these items are mixed, these are placed at the electric molding machine which can function with the use of an electric motor. He added that with this ratio, they can produce at least 45 to 50 pieces of eco-blocks.
Meanwhile, the Plastic Densifier (Melter) has a capacity of 50 kilograms, thus, it can accommodate 25 kilograms of used oil and 25 kilograms of shredded cellophane and Styrofoam at an equivalent weight measurement. It is designed to melt used oil and shredded cellophane and Styrofoam then to be placed at a molding container for it to dry.
In the meantime, Agcapen mentioned that flower vases/ pots and eco-blocks to be produced will be used at the SWM Facility in Am-ancho.
Prior to the turnover of the machines, Senior Research Specialist II Gwyncel Kay Bacwaden of the DOST-Provincial Office explained that the municipal government submitted a Project Proposal for the former to provide the machines needed in order to turn cellophane, Styrofoam, and broken bottles and glasses into useful products.
Recognizing the efforts of the municipality in the implementation of its solid waste management programs, the importance of the machines being requested by the municipal government and after reviewing the proposal, the DOST –Provincial Office approved the request.
She narrated that this is the second phase of the assistance provided by the DOST to the municipal government as the former turned over a bottle crusher and a plastic shredder to the latter in the past year.
The bottle crusher and the plastic shredder are being used by the municipal government in the production of eco-blocks, and tapped a group of senior citizens to manage it.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey voiced that with the meager budget and limited resources of the municipal government, it established networks with the national agencies to aid in the solution of the solid waste management problem of the locality. With this, he expressed his gratitude to the DOST for its continuous assistance to the municipality.
By Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc
