FUNDS FOR BUDDING JOURNALISTS. A man buys decorative flowers made out of plastics from learners of Gov. E. Jaro Elementary School in Babatngon, Leyte. Proceeds of the project will be used to finance campus-based training workshops and for funding of the printing of their school publication, a student publication adviser said on Tuesday (August 6, 2019). (Photo courtesy of Sheillarica Cinco-Arinto)

TACLOBAN CITY — Elementary pupils in Babatngon, Leyte have found ways to sustain the operation of their school publication through recycling.

Students of an elementary school in Gov. E. Jaro village in Babatngon town generated funds through its Project 3Ts (Turning Trash into Treasure).

Teacher Sheillarica Cinco-Arinto, student publication adviser said on Tuesday that due to meager funds, their school failed to sustain school publication activities in the past academic years.

“Like mainstream media, campus publication is also instrumental in shaping public opinion by providing relevant information. On top of keeping the students’ body up to date with relevant issues, the campus press plays a huge role in preserving freedom of speech and expression,” Arinto said.

Proceeds from the project will be used to finance campus-based training workshops and for funding of the printing of their school publication.

“This also aims to teach the students how to create income-generating products by using recyclable trash, and at the same time help in minimizing waste disposal that is harmful to the environment,” Arinto told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Among the output of children are decorative flowers made out of plastics, with a price tag of PHP100 each, and also coin banks made out of empty milk can, sold at PHP50 to PHP100 each, depending on the size.

Likewise, students also converted empty big plastic bottled water containers into aquariums. There are also DaMath Board Games made of used cardboard and plastic cups.

Learners have been selling “ukay-ukay” or used apparel. Solid waste that children couldn’t recycle is sold in junkshops.

“The students are selling their products in the village but we are planning to sell it also in the nearby villages with the help of the village officials and through an online platform,” Arinto said.

“The school is blessed because our students are very cooperative, students from Grades 4 and 5 are the one that makes the products but sometimes, our Grade 2 students are also helping their senior schoolmates in the process,” she added.

Part of the project is to coordinate with the local solid waste management office and the local disaster risk reduction and management council in the village and municipal levels to orient learners on creating other recyclable products. (PNA)