On September 11, 2025, Valenzuela Polytechnic College in Valenzuela City became a hub of hope and empowerment through the “Baking for Livelihood and Empowerment” activity. This initiative brought together 20 resilient women participants, including young mothers, solo parents, unemployed women, and working students, all eager to learn valuable baking skills to improve their livelihoods.
The training was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Synergeia Foundation, the City Government of Valenzuela, led by Mayor Wes Gatchalian, the office of Councilor Lorie Borja, and the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Ayala Chapter, represented by its President, Ms. Ailene Chua.
Participants not only gained valuable baking skills but also received a starter baking kit essential for their small business ventures.
Much to the delight of the participants, their starter kit included a convection oven generously donated by Ms. Jackeline Chua of Anilaya Resort, who also serves as Vice President of BPW Ayala Chapter.
Also a skilled baker, Ms. Jackeline Chua conducted the training with baker Kissie Semillano.
Barangay Chairmen, Barangay Kagawads, School Heads, LGU MENRO and Municipal Administrator of Mambusao attended the assessment and discussion on solid waste management and education facilitated by Dr. Nene Guevara of Synergeia Foundation. Participants were very candid in sharing the state of SWM in their community and expressed openness in working together and finding doable solutions to improve the state of solid waste in the locality.
Mambusao is a three-time winner of the Seal of Good Education Governance. It was a recipient of a special award at the National Education Summit held in February 2025. However, the latest pre-assessment results in CRLA showed that only 1.95% of children in Grade 1 are grade ready. When asked about the reasons or factors for the low score, school heads said that teachers were unable to teach well their students because the reading materials provided by DepEd do not match the context of students in a specific grade level. The materials lack the “basics” on how students should learn reading. They also expressed that most parents were unable to support children’s learning at home due to work and livelihood activities. The school head of Bungsi Elementary School expressed that healthy learning institutions need to be developed in school to take care of teachers and students’ mental health. She said healthy physical school environment, healthy school policies, links between teachers and parents, access to health services in schools and health education are important to a child’s overall well being.
Random assessment of Barangays’ solid waste management
Barangay
SWM Plan (Y/N)
SWM Plan Rating
MRF (Y/N)
MRF Rating
Atiplo
Y
3
Y
3
Sinandojan
N
n/a
Y
2
Tugas
N
n/a
Y
3
Bunga
N
n/a
N
n/a
Bato-bato
N
n/a
Y
2
Bergante
N
n/a
Y
3
Caidquid
N
n/a
Y
2
Balit
N
n/a
Y
3
Maralag
N
n/a
Y
2
Challenges and Issues: Garbage Collection and Disposal system
Community residents’ refusal to follow laws/ordinances
Lack of discipline among residents
Habitual dumping of garbage any where
There is no segregation
Barangays do not have vehicles that can be used to haul garbage
Wastes that are scattered all over the place are attributed to stray dogs and cats
Every week, barangay officials and community volunteers conduct cleanup e.g. they pick trash from the streets and consolidate garbage for pick up of garbage truck.
Residual wastes such as diapers and sanitary napkins are disposed by digging pits
Plastic bottles are consolidated and sold to junk shops – some residents and barangays do this
There are ambulant vendors in town
Being a progressive town, it generates a huge quantity of garbage
The LGU has a dumpsite which is termed by the MENRO (Sir Desam Montorio) as ‘Controlled Waste Disposal Facility”. All residual wastes are transferred there. The dumpsite is controlled in the sense that it is “open and closed” on designated schedule. The DENR has called the attention of the MENRO so the dumpsite is now being controlled.
The LGU has a Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan until 2027.
Plans and Proposed Actions on Education
Literacy and Numeracy Program for non-grade ready and slow emerging students
ARAL Program implementation (Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning)
Teachers Training – new developments in instructional delivery and new learnings
Reading materials and books that are not the same as what DepEd provides. What’s needed are materials and books for developing learners, “dapat mas mababa sa grade level since students cannot understand those from their grade level” (SH of Bungsi E/S)
More printed work exercises and worksheets that can be used by students to gain mastery of the subject
Provision of bond paper and ink for teachers so they can create their own exercise and learning materials. MOOE budget cannot finance additional bond paper and printer ink. They need 120 reams of bond paper to print learning exercises and materials. A barangay chairman committed to provide a ream of bond paper to the barangay school
Barangay leaders and teachers must work together by supporting students’ education needs to improve performance
How to address absenteeism of students . These students are not given failing grades and instead are given interventions so they can cope with the lessons. These students help their parents in farming and livelihood activities (treated child labor by participants)
The Brgy Chairman of Caguidquid supports the schools in his barangay. He funded the school’s handwashing facility and perimeter fence. He is very supportive of school programs
Needs and Proposed Actions on SWM
Preparation of Barangay SWM Plans and process of implementation
Capacity building on proper waste segregation – how to reduce, dispose residuals and waste recycling/upcycling
Waste segregation in schools with MRF
The LGU must have a budget allocation for SWM or environment similar to the GAD and DRRM. According to the MENRO, it is high time for the national govt to allow LGUs to have SWM budget because the DENR has imposed strict rules on waste management.
The session opened with a sharing of ideas on the concept of solid waste management. Participants said SWM is about waste segregation and proper waste disposal. Poor SWM results to floods, diseases, and destructive typhoons and climate change. It was discussed how is SWM related to education. Teaching students good citizenship, civic-mindedness and responsibility are important steps in developing care for the environment.
Assessment of Education using the latest Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA)
Talking of education, the DepEd representatives shared the CRLA pre-assessments results. The data shows only 39.76% of Grade 3 students to be grade-ready.
Random assessment of Barangays’ solid waste management
Barangay
SWM Plan (Y/N)
SWM Plan Rating
MRF (Y/N)
Remarks
Cabugao
Yes, but not yet implemented
2
Ondoy
Yes, but still 30% completion
3
Santa Cruz
Yes, but not yet implemented
4
Agustin Navarra (grand champion)
Yes. SWM Program and Board both functional
5
Yes
There is segregation
Ilaya-Ivisan
Yes. but not yet fully functional; ordinance on SWM
3
No dumpsite; no segregation
Mianay
Yes. Ordinance on SWM and monthly clean-up drive
4
No segregation; need to educate households on segregation
Malocloc Norte
Yes. DILG compliant; SK leads clean-up drive
4.5
Yes, each sitio has MRF
Cudian
Yes.
4
Matnog
Yes. Weekly clean-up every Saturday with SKs, 4Ps, MSWD
3.5
Malocloc Sur
Yes. Weekly clean-up,
3
Yes (3)
Waste segregation being practiced
Challenges and Issues: Garbage Collection and Disposal system
Brgy Cabugao (coastal community)
Collects plastic bottles and utilize them as planters; some are sold to junk shops; some are used as decorative items
Biggest problem is the garbage along its coastline coming from Roxas City and Aklan
Brgy Basiao (coastal community)
having problems with garbage. Some households segregate but most residents lack discipline
they don’t know how to dispose of residuals
Basiao is a populated community and has many beach resorts which are main contributors to the garbage problem
one of the biggest environmental challenge facing Basiao is the accumulation of solid waste along its coastline. These wastes, which are believed to originate from Roxas City and Aklan, are carried by ocean currents and washed ashore during high tide. In some instances, dead animals were also found drifting along with the debris which contributes to the pollution of the coastal waters.
Brgy Balaring
some households segregate plastic bottles and sell them to junk shops
Garbage collection is done every Saturday
Municipal level
Vehicles passing along Ivisan dump garbage on the road. Usually at night time trucks carrying sacks of garbage intentionally dump them in Ivisan. LGU law enforcers discovered that the vehicle owners are not from Ivisan and believed to be from Roxas City and Sapian.
Lack of discipline among house holds who carelessly and habitually dump their wastes in the streets
Most households and communities do not exercise waste segregation; do not have garbage receptacles or garbage bags for segregating wastes; Do not have knowledge or do not practice composting biodegradables
Garbage collected are brought to the Ecopark where workers do segregation of wastes.
Glass bottles, broken glass and styro foam are not accepted by most junk shops. These types of wastes are stored and consolidated in the Ecopark and brought to Passi City land fill. LGU pays P800 per metric ton of residual waste transferred to Passi City.
Schools
Schools have MRFs where they store plastic bottles and other recyclables
Recyclables are sold to junk shops and proceeds are used for school clean and green program
Plans on Education
Reading Program
Integrate SWM concept in lessons or story reading sessions and materials
Teach good citizenship and values relating to care for the environment
Parents Training: Nanay-Tatay Teacher Training
Educating parents and children on waste reduction, segregation and disposal
Responsible parenting
Teachers Training in teaching beginning/basic reading
Training of Day Care Workers
Barangays’ Wish List
Push cart or wheel barrow – for garbage collection within narrow streets and alleys; hauling garbage from collection point to garbage truck on scheduled pick up
Solar-powered E-bike or Tricycle with side car (made of steel/metal)
E-Bike costs around P70,000 plus the solar power battery
(counterpart sharing with LGU, Brgys and Community Residents)
Each household will be charged monthly waste management fees as their counterpart share for the E-Bike, solar power battery and side car
Provision of Incentives 1) Search for the Best barangays in environmental management and protection
The LGU has an Eco-Park which is owned, managed and operated by the municipal government. Recyclables such as plastic and glass bottles are brought to the Eco-Park for segregation and cleaning/washing. There are 35 ambulant scrappers, 6 waste collectors and ecological aides. Twenty (20) eco aides per barangay work as community street sweepers. They are paid as job order workers and provided with incentives. The scrappers and segregators work in the eco park. Part of their responsibilities is maintenance and upkeep of the eco-park. They segregate and wash plastic bottles and classify them according to size and color. They compost biodegradable wastes, maintain vegetable garden and plant fruit trees. Plant and vegetable seeds are provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office. Park workers also plant flowers in the eco-park. There is an association of Cut Flowers in Ivisan.
A total of 8 junk shops are operating in Ivisan. 2 out of the 8 shops have business permits while 6 have yet to secure local permit to operate their business. Most barangays consolidate and segregate plastic bottle wastes and sell them to junk shops.
The LGU partnered with two aggregators – Villar Sipag Foundation and Enviro-Plastic in Oton, Iloilo. Under the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Villar, shredded plastic bottles are exchanged for plastic chairs. Enviro Plastic buys plastic bottles, shredded plastics and Styrofoam from Ivisan.
Other plastic bottles are sold to junk shops. Sale proceeds are used to buy water for park workers and detergent for cleaning plastic bottles. Clean bottles command a higher price especially when sorted and classified according to color.
Residual wastes are brought to Passi City sanitary land fill in Iloilo. Ivisan pays P800 per metric ton of residual waste Passi City land fill has facilities to process residuals.
The municipal government allocated P2 million from the General Fund for the reconditioning of eco-park equipment and rehabilitation of the park. The Municipal Environment Officer is hopeful the Eco-park will be fully up and running before the end of 2025.
Interview with MENRO and Eco-park Workers: SWM baseline assessment and capacity building needs
Local Ordinances on Solid Waste Management (copies to be provided to Synergeia)
“No Plastics Day” – every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
“ No segregation, No collection Policy
Anti-Littering
Barangay MRFs
3 to 5 MRFs per barangay
WACS data (to be provided to Synergeia)
January-July 2025 data being organized by Ma’am Clyde, MENRO
2021 or 2022 data to be provided
Proposed Capacity Building/Training for Ivisan
4.1 Enforcement of Brgy SWM Plans, Local Ordinances – techniques on enforcement
4.2 Refresher on Environment and SWM Laws and Implementation
4.3 Strategies on Creating SWM Board and Barangay Committee – 5 to 8 participants per barangay
4.4 Scrappers Training (include junk shop operators)
Training on Recycling/Upcycling/Composting
Production of materials out of scraps
4.5 Livelihood Skills Training
Agri-crop production/vegetable gardening
Cookery and food preparation
Beauty care
Sewing (e.g. creating bag from tarpaulin, etc)
5) Organization of Waste Collectors and Scrappers into a cooperative or association
35 ambulant scrappers
6 waste collectors
20 Eco aides
6) Needs of Waste collectors and Scrappers
Boots
Hand gloves
Rain coat
Reusable face mask
Long sleeves shirt
Working pants
Large umbrella (to be used when washing bottles and gardening)
