Scrap to crop for gardening, waste management for host barangays of Aboitiz Construction

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Aboitiz Construction  in partnership with the Agriculture’s Office and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Toledo City and Balamban town in Cebu launched the “Scrap to Crop and Waste Management Program” for 55 farmers within the company’s host barangays-- Don Andres Soriano in Toledo City and Buanoy in Balamban.

The program aims to train these farmers to do organic farming, vegetable production, and solid waste management for sustainable and environment-friendly gardens that serve as good sources of free fruits and vegetables for community members.

To support this program, Aboitiz Construction donated gardening equipment, fruit bearing seedlings, organic fertilizers, and waste management bins to the identified farmers and barangays. 

According to Aboitiz Construction Division Chief for Corporate Affairs and Servies, Nina Ylagan-Pedro that the mission of the company is to contribute to the environmental programs of the communities where the company’s projects are located.

“The said programs are aligned with our sustainability aspirations. We aim to contribute to building sustainable communities and partnerships and capacity building will be our important enablers,” Ylagan-Pedro said.

As part of its corporate social responsibility program, Aboitiz Construction sold its scrap materials from project sites thus, generating funds to implement the “Scrap to Crop and Waste Management program”, including planting of seedlings that will eventually be a good source of food for the communities, Pedro added.

Buanoy Barangay Captain Clyde Selbos thanked the thank Aboitiz Construction for this partnership.  He said through the program, the farmers target to establish an accessible garden for everyone, strengthen the barangay’s waste management efforts.

“We want to contribute to environmental actions through the learning sessions that were provided to us,” Selbos added.

In 2021, in partnership with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Lipa, Batangas, Aboitiz Construction also conducted a similar program for the local government unit (LGUs) officials of Brgy. Simlong and Pinamucan Ibaba in Batangas City.

The program trained the LGUs on the basics of tree planting and solid waste management and provided forest seedlings as well as material recovery facilities. (Photos: Aboitiz Construction FB/Google Images)