GK benefits from MOA between city govt, Holcim
Gawad Kalinga (GK) will get a "special price" from Holcim Cement Corporation for all its cement needs in its housing projects. The special price was made after the city government inked a memorandum of agreement with the Holcim Cement for the shipment of plastic bags and used tires for the company's fuel needs last week.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said the agreement will benefit the Gawad Kalinga projects as they could have a discounted price in all their cement purchases for the construction of all housing units in the city's relocation sites. Holcim will become a partner of the Gawad Kalinga.
Treñas said the city gets no amount for the shipment of plastic garbage and used tires. The city also spends nothing for the shipment of plastic to Lugait, Iligan. The agreement will likewise ease the problems of garbage in Calajunan dumpsite.
Plastic bags is one of the contributory factors that affects the city's drainage system. Most of the drainage systems get clogged because of the presence of plastic bags while used tires left unattended are favorite breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Seventy percent of the city's garbage dumped in the Calajunan dumpsite are plastic materials. It is estimated that the city generates more than 160 metric tons of garbage everyday taken from the six public markets, residential areas, shopping malls, commercial districts and streets. All are dumped at the Calajunan dumpsite.
The agreement with the cement corporation will also help lengthen the lifespan of the dumpsite. The volume of the garbage dumped at the Calajunan dumpsite will decrease. The collection of plastic waste will also be a big help in the environment, said Trenas.
With the formal signing of agreement, the chief executive reminded all the presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains to practice waste segregation.
The residents are encouraged to use their materials recovery facility (MRF) by sorting out and segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. Biodegradable wastes are then transformed into compost at the dumpsite.