ORMOC CITY – A group of scholars supported by Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has turned a roadside basketball hoop into an unusual waste collection facility aimed at encouraging visitors to properly dispose of their plastic bottles in Kananga, Leyte.
The EDC SIKAT Scholars Batch 2022 launched Project EcoShoot on July 13 at a popular stopover in Barangay Aguiting, where motorists, cyclists, joggers, and tourists frequently gather to enjoy views of the mountains, sunsets, and city lights.
The project uses a recycled basketball hoop fitted with a collection net, allowing visitors to “shoot” their empty plastic bottles into the makeshift receptacle instead of leaving them along the roadside.
The scholars said the project seeks to make proper waste disposal more engaging while promoting responsible environmental practices among visitors and residents.
Ancient Cationg and seven other SIKAT scholars led the initiative, which also aims to benefit nearby communities in Barangays Lim-ao, Aguiting, and Montebello.
Jennifer Wenceslao, EDC head of corporate relations for Leyte, said Project EcoShoot demonstrates how SIKAT scholars can contribute to environmental protection and community service.
The scholars said the project is also their way of giving back to EDC, which has supported their education through the SIKAT scholarship program.
They hope the initiative will go beyond collecting plastic bottles and encourage more people to develop responsible waste disposal habits and greater awareness of environmental protection.
The project also demonstrates how simple, recycled materials can be turned into a practical community-based environmental initiative.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
