Recycling, composting and gardening

RECYCLING, composting and gardening are all parts of the same value chain that all communities should “operationalize” everywhere, all the time, and all over the country.

I should say wherever there is there is waste and wherever there is hunger, but these two are actually everywhere too, and are present all the time too!

I should also say that it sounds like it is easier said than done, but that is not true either, because it is not too difficult to do, and it could be one everywhere, from Mavulis island in Batanes, to Saluag island in Sulo, from Forbes Park in Makati City to Payatas Dumpsite in Quezon City.

Recycling starts with t he segregation of biodegradables and non-biodegradables. For the most part, the latter has commercial values when sold as paper, plastic and metals.

The biodegradables generally do not have commercial value except when these are converted into fertilizers. And that is where composting comes in.

Composting could be done with or without earthworms, but doing it with the latter has some added advantages, such as the production of vermicast or worm castings.

Depending on its quality, some waste food may be used as hog feed, but that is usually not advisable because of health reasons.

Gardening becomes easier and cheaper with the use of organic fertilizers that are produced through composting. If you need help in doing this value chain, I can assist you.

MORE SOCIAL WORKERS FOR HOSPITALS

Based on my own experience as a former director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), an indigent who seeks financial assistance for his or her hospital expenses would almost always end up with a balance to still pay, despite the PCSO guarantee letter, and despite the coverage provided by PhilHealth.

This is the reason why these indigents still have to run around to try and get financial assistance wherever they could get it, including the mayors, the governors, the congressmen and even the senators.

For those who are lucky enough, some are able to get some additional assistance one way or the other, while the others may have to fall victim to loan sharks.

My point here is not so much about the lack of assistance from those who can give, but the lack of someone who could coordinate the search for assistance, a function that could be done by a social worker who is connected with, or employed by the hospital, and not by the DSWD.

I have seen how difficult it is for the relatives of the patients to go around to look for help, considering that more often than not, they could not even go out of the hospital because they have to watch over their patients.

This might sound like a difficult function to do, but I know that it can work, because I have done it before, knocking on doors on behalf of the indigents.

We are not lacking in social workers because our schools are always producing good graduates. What is needed is for the hospitals to hire them soonest./

Recycling starts with the segregation of biodegradables and non-biodegradables.