The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, in collaboration with the Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BeST), launches their Trash to CashBack Program at the Port of Cagayan de Oro today, 17 October 2022 for the project Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Improving Port Waste Management in the Philippines. The Port of Cagayan de Oro is the first under Philippine Ports Authority to implement the said program.

Since its recognition as a Green Port by APEC Port Services Network, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro has initiated environmental programs and participated in several projects including the Clean Ports, Clean Oceans project of WWF Philippines and the Greig Foundation. The Port of Cagayan de Oro was chosen to be one of the three (3) participating ports for the baseline study launched back in January of this year. After several meetings and roundtable discussions, WWF was able to partner with BeST,  a company that offers waste management services such as waste collection, transport, and disposal.

The Trash to CashBack program aims to engage the public in the proper disposal of wastes and help preserve the environment. Prior to its implementation at the CDO Port, WWF and BeST conducted an online seminar on 12 October 2022, introducing the concept of the program to the PMO MOC personnel and members of the PCGA 1001st Auxiliary Squadron. It is composed of five (5) steps, namely, Segregate, Exchange, Redeem, Collect, and Recycle. In connection with the Clean Ports, Clean Oceans Project, port users are encouraged to deposit their plastic wastes to the BeST booth located at the Passenger Terminal Building every first friday of the month and in exchange, they will earn environmental points (EP). Each EP is equivalent to Php1 which may be used to transact with the BeST Parners such as Lazada PH, Smart, and BDO among others.

The PMO continues to work with the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines for the succeeding phase of the project, including the establishment of the port’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and conduct of information drive against plastic pollution as part of its Strategic Action Plan.

Visit their websites:

World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines – https://wwf.org.ph/

Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. – http://best.com.ph/