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Red Gonzaga from PBSP-CRTD explains vermicomposting as a waste management solution. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY GETS RID OF GARBAGE TWO YEARS HAVE GONE BY, and the memories of typhoon Ondoy still stir up fear among the people, especially those living near bodies of water. For citizens residing near the Hagonoy Creek in Taguig, the threat of another killer flood is resurfacing as tons of garbage pile up like islands on the stinking creek connected to Laguna de Bay.       Recently, a new organic process called vermicomposting, which turns biodegradable wastes into an eco-friendly fertilizer, was developed by the Philippine Business for Social Progress - Center for Rural Technology Development (PBSP-CRTD), making it possible to get rid of garbage in a resourceful way.       PBSP-CRTD introduced this process to the Waste Management Unit of Taguig during the Clean-up Drive led by the Australian Embassy in partnership with the City Government of Taguig and Clean Up the Philippines Movement. During his explanatory talk, Gonzaga demonstrates the process of making vermicasts.       Vermicomposting is the process of making texturized, sanitized, and deodorized form of castings made up of organic matters excreted by earthworms.       Prior to putting the worms, the biodegradable trash is crushed and left to decompose for about two weeks. Earthworms then feed on decomposed materials and their excreted substance called vermicast is eventually mixed with the fertilized soil as organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.       Vermicompost provides plants with complete essential nutrition, hastening seed germination, plant growth, flowering, and fruiting. It contains beneficial microorganisms and is a proven effective solution to waste management problems, like the case in Taguig.       CRTD is PBSP's demo farm located in Calauan, Laguna. It is a laboratory for developing, testing, validating, and disseminating appropriate farming technologies. It also has an improved farming system and agricultural technology designed to optimize the use of land, providing ample yield for the farmer's economic advantage. PBSP-CRTD with the Waste Management Unit of Taguig City during the turnover of vermicomposting materials at the Australian Embassy's Clean Up Drive in Barangay Hagonoy.       The BUKHAY or Bukid ng Buhay (Farm of Life) is the name of the farm developed by CRTD to serve as venue for integrated farming systems. CRTD conducts study tour in BUKHAY and other community development and project sites in the country. They give trainings in vermiculture, aquaculture, livestock, tilapia hatchery and production, and lowland agroforestry.       Other courses offered are fruit crops production, ornamental plant production and management, food processing, demo-farm establishment, and solid waste management.       Individuals or organizations interested in agricultural technology may contact PBSP-CRTD at (049) 568-0168 or email crtd.pbsp@gmail.com. Taguig waste management workers take up their oars to row across the garbage-filled creek.       Cleaning up is not just one day. Vermicomposting is just one of the ways to reduce the garbage in the Hagonoy Creek. Waste management is a shared responsibility, as pointed out by Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano during the Clean Up Drive.       Mayor Cayetano reminded the residents to check their waste disposal habits. "Mas gagaan po kung tulong-tulong. Huwag natin ipasa lahat sa gobyerno ang problema. Hindi naman sila ang nagtatapon ng basura (It would be lighter if everyone's participating. Let's not pass all the problems to the government. After all, it's not the government that dumps the garbage)."       Australian Ambassador Rod Smith reiterated that natural disasters (like typhoon Ondoy) cannot be stopped, but people can strengthen the community resilience against calamities.       Roald Arcangel, chairman of Clean Up the Philippines said that cleaning is not just done in one day. "All of us must start doing our share for the environment," he added.       The Clean Up Drive is an activity to promote environmental awareness and community action to reduce vulnerability to natural disaster.                                                                                                                               - Grace Muncada (Photos courtesy of PBSP) ********* ********* ********* INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY MARKS DECADE OF PARTNERSHIP FOR BASILAN KIDS IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company (Philam Life) recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Aid for Basilan Children (ABC) Project.       The ABC Project is now a decade-old partnership between the largest corporate-led foundation and the largest life insurance company in the Philippines. This is to support the education of less-fortunate children in the Basilan Island.       Through this project, beneficiary students are provided with scholarships, books, and school supplies to assist them in their education.       The ABC project also helps improve the students' capacity for learning through a parent-teacher training, nutrition program, and better school facilities.       Moreover, this corporate social initiative is realized to keep the students in classrooms. Some of the reasons why they drop out of school are poverty, poor health, and disruptions in community life.       Originally, the ABC project is to provide assistance for the primary education of the Basilan children. Since the scholars have performed very well in their academics, it was decided that the project should be extended up to the scholars' secondary education.       Philam and PBSP are still open for future partnerships that will increase the financial assistance given to the scholars for tertiary level education.       PBSP is a non-profit organization that focuses in the development of education, health, livelihood, and environment. By targeting these four key areas, it aims to reduce poverty in the country.                                                                                                           - Grace Muncada *** *** PBSP TB PROJECT LAUNCHES PHOTO CONTEST PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS, with the support of the Global Fund TB Project recently launched a photo contest entitled "To Be Free is To Be TB-Free" during a Photographers' Forum on Tuberculosis (TB) held at the College of Saint Benilde Hotel and International Conference Center. The photo contest aims to increase awareness on TB to more individuals through compelling yet positive images. Prof. Cecilia S. Angeles gives the forum some usefil tips on telling a story through photography.       Various photography groups as well as freelance photographers who attended the event were oriented on basic information on TB emphasizing the fact that TB is curable and that it is not to be dreaded.       Prof. Cecilia S. Angeles, a photography professor and an active member of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) also gave some pointers on Advocacy Photography and encouraged participants on how through images, the photographers can tell stories and messages to spread awareness on the disease.       PBSP is the principal recipient of the Global Fund TB Grant in the Philippines. The Global Fund promotes global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. "To Be Free is To Be TB-Free" photo contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers. Up close and personal: Prof. Cecilia S. Angeles answers individual questions.       Aside from cash prizes, photos of winners and select participants will be included in a photo exhibit/caravan and photo book. Deadline of submission of entries is on August 19. For full contest rules, please visit www.pbspgftb.org.                                                                            - Jerome P. Trinona (Photos courtesy of PBSP) See also Amy Malaluan's inspirational story of Philippine 'Women in Business Challenge' continued international successes on these special PBSP feature pages. PBSP Intro      1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10      11      12      13      14