Carlos Hilado Memorial State College students Ella Veraguas and Remson Elarmo were grand winners and Janine Marie Ramirez and Kiert Jan Parcero won as runners-up in the “Blastik Plastic” bottle recycling challenge organized by Peacepond Farmers Association, in celebration of the Philippine Environment Month in June, a press release from the school said.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Binalbagan campus, organized by Peacepond Farmers Association led by Checcs Orbida Osmeña, in partnership with Blastik Binalbagan and the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. Bacolod representatives, while the prizes for the Talisay campus grand winners were delivered on June 29.
Veraguas of the Binalbagan campus and Elarmo of the Talisay campus received P15,000 worth of Blastik wall tiles, while the runners-up won five Blastik wall tiles, Blastik bowl made of recycled plastic bottles and plastic bottle caps, Blastik facemasks, wallets, clutches made of recycled soft drink labels, and Blastik eco-bags each, the press release said.
AIDFI representatives Meljover Sustento, Argie Salvador, Jobert Cabatin, and Ariel Arib turned over the prizes to Elarmo. Binalbagan campus executive director Joevelle Vergara, College of Fisheries dean Imee Perante, SSG adviser Eduard Advincula, Greening CHMSC coordinator Alberto de la Cruz, PME coordinator Maria Luna Mabasa, and External Affairs coordinator-Binalbagan Campus Sheila Ticar attended the awarding ceremony at the Binalbagan campus to show their support.
The CHMSC community was very proud of the winners for not only winning in the challenge but also for showing care and concern for the environment. The recycling challenge was only for those who attended the Blastik Project online and face-to-face workshops, the press release added.*