By Asst. Prof. Rea Balontong
CPU advances a cleaner and greener Iloilo City by strengthening partnerships and empowering communities through innovative and sustainable waste management initiatives under Project Agubay.
Central Philippine University (CPU) continues to demonstrate its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement through Project Agubay (Awareness, Guidance, Unity, Biodiversity, Action, Yield), a collaborative initiative together with Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFI) that aims to strengthen solid waste management (SWM) efforts across Iloilo City. The project is carried out in partnership with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), General Services Office (GSO), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and various other government and non-government organizations, all working together to develop effective and sustainable solutions to address the city’s growing waste management challenges.
Project Agubay builds upon the success of the Rethinking Plastics Project—Rethinking Plastic: Reducing Plastic Waste in Iloilo City—which CPU previously implemented in collaboration with the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and the European Union (EU). That earlier project, piloted in 13 barangays, achieved remarkable results, including greater stakeholder engagement, improved eco-solution models, and increased diversion of plastic waste. With these accomplishments as its foundation, CPU now leads the Mainstreaming Clean Cities, Blue Oven Program, which extends sustainable solid waste management practices to 18 barangays in Iloilo City.
The project’s objectives include formulating and updating the Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management (BESWM) programs in all 152 barangays of Iloilo City, establishing a comprehensive database for waste management at both the barangay and city levels, deploying Barangay Material Recovery System (BMRS) equipment and technology to improve waste segregation and processing, and training local stakeholders to effectively implement sustainable SWM programs and related policies. To support these goals, CPU developed a Solid Waste Management Information System, a digital platform designed to help barangays manage, organize, monitor, and generate reports on their waste management activities more efficiently.
As part of the project’s outreach component, the College of Computer Studies (CCS), in partnership with the University Community Engagement and Service Learning Center (CESLC), conducted a series of training sessions for representatives from 180 barangays. These sessions were held every Saturday from May 17 to August 2, 2025, and provided participants with hands-on experience in using the SWM Information System while reinforcing their understanding of sustainable waste management practices.
Through Project Agubay, CPU continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. By combining technology, education, and community collaboration, the university and its partners are paving the way for cleaner and greener communities in Iloilo City—one barangay at a time.