BAGUIO CITY — “Totoong may pera sa basura.” (Truly there is money in garbage.) Thus stressed Environment Management Bureau – Cordillera Regional Director Reynaldo Digamo during the judging and awarding of the Christmas tree making contest using recycled materials at the EMB-CAR Park here on Tuesday night.
The Christmas tree out of recycled materials made by artist Resty Lopez and family won the grand prize of P50,00.00. The tree is made up of plastic bottles, junk food wrappers, tetra packs, soda cans, used paper cups, old clothes, shoes, and cosmetic wastes.
Digamo said the EMB-CAR organized the Christmas tree making contest dubbed as the “Punong Pamasko: sa Basura Nabuo” to promote the use of recycled materials in making beautiful decorative pieces and other decors such as Christmas trees.
It was also aimed to encourage the public to put more efforts in recycling and reusing as part of the increasing awareness and practice on solid waste management, clean air and climate change consciousness and adaptation.
At least nine groups and individuals coming from the different sectors including schools, environmental organizations, artists and individuals practicing solid waste management participated in the Christmas tree making contest.
Janmar Mangosong’s Christmas tree landed in second place while the Hanachi Creations and the Calvary Christian Life School tied in third place.
Other participants were GINTO Baguio, Bethesda Ministries International Youth Flame, Baguio City Innovative Recycling Association, Maria Theresa Navalta Calalo and Marsan De Vera Sison with a consolation prize of P5,000 each.
Digamo together with DENR-Cordillera Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo and Department of Education-CAR Assistant Regional Director Betina Daytec-Aquino awarded prizes to the winners of the environment-friendly Christmas tree making contest.
On the winning piece, Lopez explained that they created several layers of the Christmas tree representing the roles of each individual, the families and the communities towards caring for the environment and mother nature.
“The Christmas tree shows how to be a good citizen by practicing solid waste management at home and doing a simple act of kindness to promote an environment free from pollution; the family where we first learn to love, and be good citizens portraying responsible parenthood that teaches their children on how to be responsible enough to love mother nature; and a community that shows harmony and unity that is free from any diseases and free from pollution by practicing solid waste management, recycling, planting trees, environment conservation and cleanliness,” Lopez said.
Digamo hopes the activity would be sustained to create interest from the public in recycling of wastes, and at the same time being artistic. **JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
