This city government is using a garbage trap to collect waste in one of its major bodies of water, generated mostly by residents of coastline villages.

An average of 22 sacks of trash have been collected daily since the clearing of the Mambulok Creek, according to the data of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and the City Engineer’s Office (CEO).

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, on Friday, said the BENRO and CEO utilize an innovative device to catch waste in the creek for easy collection.

“I remind everyone to be more responsible with your trash. With the rainy season upon us, the potential for flooding is high,” Benitez said in a statement.

The mayor, earlier, said the CEO continues to conduct dredging in Mambulok Creek and waterways in three other areas.

“We are also investing PHP186 million for drainage improvement. We requested from the Department of Public Works and Highways for a pumping station with floodgate near the Bredco port. The floodgate is an additional protection from tidal surges because the threat of flooding comes from both inland sources and the sea,” he added.

In 2023, Bacolod generated 214,000 tons of garbage, and initially, the goal was mainly to collect and dispose of the waste in the landfill, the mayor said.

“Now, we are improving collection and promoting recycling. We acquired a 25-hectare property in Barangay Felisa, where we will build the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Teaching Hub, which will include a tree park,” he added. (PNA)