PEZA-MEZ inks partnership for Balik-Baterya program

PEZA-MEZ inks partnership for Balik-Baterya program
The Freeman
August 10, 2011

In a unified call for environment protection, the Philippine Export Zone Authority-Mactan Economic Zone (PEZA-MEZ) and its locators has commited to support the Balik-Baterya Program by donating all its used batteries for the cause.

The commitment was sealed through an agreement signed between PEZA-MEZ and Balik-Baterya coordinators Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation (OMMC) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in a forum held recently at the PEZA-MEZ session hall of Mactan Economic Zone 2, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

In attendance were PEZA-MEZ Department Manager of Operations Atty. Rufino San Juan IV, PEZA-MEZ CSR Head Engr. Rolando Patalinghug, OMMC CSR head Eman Ragaza, PBSP Visayas Regional Office Senior Program Officer Olive Jabido and 20 locators that already committed to join PEZA-MEZ for the cause coined 'Batteries for the Earth, Batteries for the Future Project'.

In his speech, Atty. San Juan assured PBSP and OMMC that the newfound partnership will continue to gather more locators to donate their used lead acid batteries (ULABs) to the program.

“With the help of the organizers, the very things we consider wastes like used batteries can help provide for the foundation of our children’s future. This project may not be able to put back power into the used batteries, but the used batteries can put power in the minds of thousands of children,” he said.

“This (partnership) is a ‘solution within a solution.’ The program enables us to address an environmental concern while helping us support better education for the schoolchildren. By having Philippine Recyclers Inc. and Motolite as partners, we know that our ULABs are properly treated and disposed of. Equally important, having PBSP with the program assures us of a sustainable and worthwhile development for the children,” PEZA-MEZ Environment, Health and Safety Officer Verna Luz Daño added.

Launched in 2006, the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program intends to protect the environment through proper disposal and recycling of ULABs as well as improve the quality of learning among pupils.

ULABs donated by companies are bought by OMMC and the proceeds are used to fund the establishment of learning resource centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on basic academic subjects.

The signing of agreement also marked the start of collection of used batteries donated by the 20 PEZA-MEZ locators.

The donation, worth more than 16 tons, could generate more than PhP 380,000, enough to fund for at least nine LRCs.

To make the program more sustainable, PEZA-MEZ plans to schedule quarterly collections for its locators in a year.

"This program focuses on the concerted effort among MEZ locators. No matter how small the amount of ULABs a locator commits for this program, when taken together, the difference these locators make to the environment and to the schoolchildren are even more significant," Daño said.

Locators that joined the program include Accuform Inc., Cebu Chip Connection, Cebu Iwakami Corp., Euro-CB (Phils). Inc., Halsangz Plating Cebu Corp., HPOI Corp., KGS Phils. Corp., Lear Corp., Lexmark International Phils. Inc., MSM Cebu Inc., NKC Mfg. Phils. Corp., Olympus Optical Products Philippines Inc., SAWO Inc., Taiyo Yuden Phils. Inc., Philippine Tonan Corp., Pacific Aeronautical Inc., Philippines Light-Leather Inc., Cebu Logitem Inc., Ina Micro Opto Corp. and Toa Kiko Cebu Corp.