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PROJECT TAPON (Training and Action of People ON Solid Waste Management): UTILIZING USED COOKING OIL AS A SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD

WHAT IS THIS PROJECT ALL ABOUT?

Project TAPON or Project Training and Action of People ON Solid Waste Management is service-learning project developed within the 3rd Quarter of 2022 based on the studies of MEDHIATIKA, N. L. (2021) particularly on her push to advocate soap making out of used oil in social media in order to promote the concept of “ecoprenurship”. It particularly aimed to provide training that would activate the community in managing their solid waste, create a solution that would capitalize on waste as a raw material that can be produced by the beneficiaries either for everyday use or for commercial sale and assess the viability of the future conduct of similar training to other areas of Roxas, Palawan.

The Baranggay 3 of Poblacion, Roxas, Palawan was selected as the target community of this service-learning project as per recommendation of Palawan State University-Roxas Campus Extension Office, one of the partners of this project. The community has a strong number of women and single parents’ group which was specifically selected by the Baranggay to be beneficiary of the said service-learning project.

The author also talked to other partners such as the Junior Chamber International- Roxas Casuy Chapter which pledged eight (8) soap making kits that was distributed to selected participants as a starting capital in their soap making venture, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) which coordinated with the author as they want to have the said project as an avenue to talk on their Solid Waste Management campaign, on PSU-Roxas BSBA Department that shared their expertise thru Miss Michelle Arizala, a Faculty Member  that talked on the basic costing tips and on PSU-Roxas NSTP-CWTS Component for their assistance on the conduct of the said project.      

The service-learning project was conducted last December 9, 2022 at the Covered Court of Baranggay 3, Poblacion, Roxas, Palawan with the help of the project partners. It had 30 participants from the women’s and solo parents’ group of Brgy. 3 and witnessed by other members of the Baranggay 3 who became interested in the concept of converting used cooking oil into soap. An evaluation was conducted at the end of the training which resulted positively as the participants find the training experience useful and mostly liked the concept of training them to convert used oil into soap, the participants wished to know more on how to properly make soap out of used oil, the participants sees that the training changed their perspective in managing their waste and the participants are interested to be trained on other training related to solid waste management and utilizing other wastes as a raw material.

WHY GO WITH THIS PROJECT?

It is undeniable that human beings produce waste as a by-product of what they do in their everyday lives. However, the management of this waste material that we produce is a perennial problem and causes damage to our environment and to our society. Society calls for waste reduction, recycling, and maximization of the usage of a material we possess. Yet, few of us consider the recovery of the materials we have wasted.

 According to Park (2009), many Filipinos favor fried food and frying food takes a lot of cooking oil. After frying food, many Filipinos in the Philippines pour wasted cooking oil down the drain or into the rivers. She added that oil is not only harmful to human health but is also extremely dangerous for the environment when it is discharged into sewage systems or waterways. This is supported by the results of the study of Balaria (2021) which surveyed the waste management practices of restaurants and eateries which resulted in having the surveyed establishments clogging it to the sewers that go directly to the rivers.

 Park (2009) suggests that there is a potential in turning used cooking oil into soap and making it a source of livelihood as the raw materials making it accessible within the community.   The article proposed that used cooking oil can be reused as a raw material for biodiesel production and as an ingredient for soap, which can contribute to reducing environmental pollution. Medhiatika (2021) offers the same idea as a solution which is related to the concept of “ecopreneurship”, which involves using innovation to achieve sustainable growth by exploiting market opportunities. She suggests that ecopreneurs can play a key role in promoting the reuse of used cooking oil by creating businesses that collect and recycle it, thus contributing to long-term sustainability. Additionally, her study highlights the need for collaboration between ecopreneurs, consumers, and producers to achieve this goal.

However, Park (2009) suggests that Filipinos does not know that they can recycle used cooking oil into soap and should be taught to the community. This is supported by the findings of Balaria, et.al. (2021) mentioning that majority the restaurants they surveyed are not aware on how to dispose of properly the liquid wastes. With this, there is a gap on how to address the problem on waste used cooking oil.

Seeing the vast potential of used cooking oil as an alternative source of raw material for a livelihood project of a community, capitalizing on used cooking oil should be considered by the community. Yet, one of the challenges on this move is the awareness of people on the other uses of used cooking oil since most households end up dumping their used cooking oil in their drainage.

In order for this to happen, a service-learning project was done by the author to address the said challenge.

KEY FINDINGS OF THIS PROJECT

Within the evaluation conducted within the 30 participants, the following findings were observed.

1)     The participants find the training experience useful and mostly liked the concept of training them to convert used oil into soap. Most participants strongly agree that they find the training experience they had useful for them. They mostly liked the idea of training them to convert their used cooking oil into soap as they find it to be economical and an idea that would help save the environment at the same time.

2)     The participants wished to know more on how to properly make soap out of used oil. The participants mostly commented the idea of how to properly make soap out of used  oil when they are asked what part of the said training they wished to be improved. They also pointed out that the limited time given on the said training made them wish to know more on how to properly make soap out of used oil.  

3)     The participants sees that the training changed their perspective in managing their waste. The participants mentioned that the training conducted made them gain a new  perspective on how to manage their waste at home. They also stated that they are now rethinking to research more if the waste they going to throw out will have something of value before totally throwing it out.

4)     They are interested to be trained on other training related to solid waste management and utilizing other wastes as a raw material. The participants wants to be trained more on how to convert their other wastes at home to other materials they can utilize and they are deeply interested on the concept of solid waste management as they see it as a practically to help them lessen their expenses as what demonstrated by the training on how to convert used oil into soap.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

1)     The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) should strengthen further their campaign on solid waste management and not limiting it on Information and Education Campaigns but also including similar training that would help utilize solid waste into something useful as the community finds such training more useful to them.

2)     Similar Trainings that involving livelihood project should be given more time and emphasis by other project implementer as most people are highly interested on training that they see valuable to them. Such trainings should be also implemented to other areas for further dissemination.

3)     Other extension/project implementers should consider giving extension programs that is related to utilization of solid waste into raw materials for other purpose as people find these concepts practical and more useful.    

REFERENCES

Legesse, A. (2020). Preparation of laundry soap from used cooking oils: Getting value out of waste. Scientific Research and Essays, 15(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5897/sre2019.6649

MEDHIATIKA, N. L. (2021). Making soap from waste cooking oil as a creative product and behavioral change in Housing Area. ICCD, 3(1), 70–75. https://doi.org/10.33068/iccd.vol3.iss1.304

Park, G. (2009, May). Homemade soap from used cooking oil 0809. Homemade soap from used cooking oil. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from http://ecop.pbworks.com/w/page/18520618/Homemade%20soap%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%200809 Want to know more? Check out these files:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oHvv1ribi1FTaddFSNZVCNjWjM0qUfMA?usp=sharing

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FIRE EXIT, BOW!

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Flow (A Reposted journal--I mean Re-submitted)

“Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon” (Let the flow of the waves continue) -from the song Betamax (Sandwich) Understanding the waves, the flow of living for a better understanding—the understanding that is sufficient to make the world go round against the wild winds and currents. Understanding is more than a smile that makes everything straight, more than an inspiration that motivates everyone and enough to continue the cycle of life. But as of today, understanding is placed in a wrong box—people selfishly think that all their ideas are correct, that his foolish ideas will be enough to feed an ignorant mind. People also think that his ideal is the most supreme ideal, that his conclusion will be right even if the basis of his proposition is considered to be questionable. And the worst is that most people think that sharing and understanding of ideas is unfruitful and may lead only to misunderstanding—selfishly thinking the philosophy “Therefore I am”. But why is it that we need to understand other ideas? Is it necessary to understand the ideas of others? Is it a necessity to absorb other thoughts? Is it a requirement to turn away the tides and make this world go round? Will a selfish like me benefit a thing in this idea of understanding?

In my point of view, understanding is a giving process—a process that involves two parties, one will state out a proposition and one will patiently analyze that proposition. For short, one must first express an idea and another one must understand and this process must be inversely proportional. This process is impossible if both parties will state their proposition and definitely impossible if both parties will just analyze a proposition—why will they analyze if there is no any given proposition to discuss or to analyze with? So that explains why understanding is a giving process but why there are some misunderstandings among culture, people, nations, people and on other things. Why is it that a petty quarrel always leads to big issues? Why is it that we wars still do not come up with a concrete and definite end? Why it is that crisis is still stapled in our country’s name? Why? It is because of those who do not consider understanding as a priority in thinking over decisions and on raising questions. It is also because of not considering “Understanding” in solving problems. It is also because of misinformation and wrong philosophies about the proper expression and giving of ideas. And just look at the product of this mishap, the modern mankind and its modern way of understanding— the misunderstood society that thinks that misunderstanding is just a common norm in an understanding society. But how come that this society was established as an understanding society with this kind of actions, I mean this miserable kind of actions?

We only have one world and we also walk under the same sun, bathe in the same waters, nourished in the same land, guided by the same star and sheltered by the same paradise, EARTH and even the abstract term which is “understanding” came from our minds. But people still does not know the essential meaning of understanding. Now, it is an initiative to raise this conquest to better understanding, a need in order to maintain peace and order and the start of the new dawn towards unity. Turn the tide, let the flow of understanding be continued and it is YOU that will start that conquest.

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culturalcenterphilippines:

150th BIRTHDAY BASH FOR DR. JOSE RIZAL AT CCP In commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, various activities will be presented at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) from June 14-17, 2011. The thirteen (13) episodes of CCP’s telemovie Noli Me Tangere by National Artist Eddie Romero will be shown at the CCP Dream Theater from June 14-17, complemented with lecture-discussions for teachers by prominent resource speakers. Mga Kwentong Rizal, a storytelling session for children/youth will be held at the CCP Multi-Purpose Hall, while Rizal’s books and videos will be mounted at the CCP Library. An exhibition of paintings on Rizal by J. Pasena will be on view at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (CCP Main Gallery) on June 17-August 21 and a mural exhibit by Pilipinas Street Plan to be shown at the 2nd floor hallway on June 17-July 31. Malou Jacob’s documentary Si Jose at Si Andres will be made available on line for public viewing thru the CCP website beginning May 27 to June 30. A special program entitled J.P., ang Gig ni Rizal will be presented on June 17, 4pm at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), featuring prominent artists and performing groups led by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Olivier Ochanine, Ballet Philippines’ Candice Adea and JM Cordero, Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine High School for the Arts, and a 150-voice choir conducted by Jai Sabas Aracama. To be directed by Chris Millado, the performance will also include Rachelle Ann Go, Erik Santos, John Arcilla, Philippine All Stars, soprano Myra Mae Meneses, and Juana Change. Thirty (35) Filipino youth achievers who will be honored as Mga Makabagong Rizal: Pag-Asa ng Bayan will be introduced during the program. The project is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), Philippine Center for Gifted Education (PCGE), Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Phils. (AMRSP) and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. For more information, call the CCP Outreach and Exchange Division at  (02)832-1125 loc. 1708 to 1710

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"Ang Makabagong Laro ay PALAKASAN, At HINDI PAHABAAN NG PASENSYA at PATATAGAN NG LOOB; Di na TALAGA USO ang PEACEFUL Co-Existence"