Plastic bottles, which would have otherwise gone to waste, have been transformed into useful items.
Through the Bote Challenge of bottled water manufacturer Philippine Spring Water Resources, Inc., secondary students in Cebu tried their hands at solving the plastic waste problem by creating hammocks, eco bricks, house doors, and water pipelines using PET bottles.
The challenge sought to actively involve the youth, women, community-based organizations, local governments, and other mission-aligned partners in developing lasting solutions to plastic waste management and fostering a culture of upcycling/recycling within communities.
For its pilot year, 78 community-based schools in Cebu province participated. Ten were proclaimed as winners.
The 1st place award went to Dalaguete National High School in Dalaguete, Cebu, for its plastic strips raw material used for weaving crafts and bags; in 2nd place was Ramon M. Durano Sr. Foundation Science and Technology Center in Guinsay, Danao City, for its house and cabinet doors with fingerprint sensors; the 3rd place was bagged by General Climaco National High School in Toledo City for its multipurpose eco bricks.
The grand champion received P750,000. The second and third place awardees received P400,000 and P200,000, respectively.
Compostela National High School in Poblacion, Compostela took home the 4th place for its hammock (duyan); while 5th place went to Roberto E. Sato Memorial National High School in Calidngan, Carcar City for its concrete eco pots.
Rounding up the list of winners are Gelacio Babao Sr. Memorial High School in Valladolid, Carcar City (floor tiles); Toledo City Science National High School in Ilihan Heights, Toledo City (water pipeline); Jovencio N. Masong National High School in Nailon, Bogo City (lounge chair); Sabang National High School in Sabang, Danao City (currency for barter system); and Anong Sur Tabaco Frasco National High School in Anonang Sur, Bogo City (dextrose gardening).
The rest of the winners each received P80,000.
The winners were adjudged based on impact (30 percent), sustainability of innovation (30 percent), profitability or market potential (30 percent); and developmental limitations and opportunities (10 percent). Seventy percent of the final scores were from the panel of judges and 30 percent from public votes.