Plogging: Keeping fit while helping clean the environment
The new eco-friendly workout that started in Sweden is now invading the Cordillera region.
In celebration of the World Water Day, the Environmental Management Bureau-Cordillera, in partnership with the local government unit of Tuba, Benguet including the barangays along Kennon Road, conducted a one day plogging activity along Bued River and Kennon Road last March 22.
More than 40 sacks of solid wastes were collected during the activity while providing physical exercise to the participants.
Jogging +Picking up waste
EMB-CAR Information Officer Claire Luminang explained that plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up litter along the path. It started in Sweden in 2016 and it spread to other countries following the increased concern about plastic pollution. Plogging comes from the words “jogging” and “plocka upp,” Swedish for ‘pick up.’
It is an activity where one loses calories while doing something for the environment. As a work out, it provides variation in body movements by bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running, jogging or walking.
Plogging requires two basic materials- bags to put in collected trash and gloves for hygienic purposes since trash could either be wet or dry.
The rules are simple. While jogging, pick up trash along the way and put them in the bag you are carrying then unload in proper disposal areas.
More than 100 individuals participated in plogging activity along Kennon Road and the Bued River which is experiencing environmental degradation due to many threats such as the presence of household, mining and animal wastes.
The ploggers composed of government employees from the different line agencies in the region, municipal employees of Tuba, barangay officials and folks along roadline and other volunteers from the private sector, were divided into two groups. One group started at Camp 6 while the other group started from the Camp 1 Barangay Hall. Both groups converged at the Camp 3 Barangay Hall where all the wastes collected (40 sacks) were gathered and a simple program was held.
Cleanliness and discipline as way of life
In her message during the program, EMB-CAR Regional Director Ma. Victoria Abrera encouraged the public to be disciplined particularly in proper waste disposal and management. “Cleanliness and discipline should be a way of life,” said Abrera who led the team coming from Camp 1 together with Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera.
“The activity (plogging) solves the problem temporarily, it is just a pinch of a solution of the problem on garbage. Kahit na pulutin natin lahat ng basura sa kalsada, it won’t end unless we are disciplined,” she said.
For his part, Rivera called on the public particularly motorists plying Kennon Road to refrain from using the road as a dumping area of garbage. He noted that when Kennon Road was opened for motorists, liters are scattered on the road line. It is important for road users to be disciplined, he said.
Self discipline is necessary to maintain and promote a clean environment. This can be done by following laws on environmental protection.