The Baguio City General Services Office has expanded its Black Soldier Fly program to process food waste from restaurants in the central business district, officials said during a press conference July 1.
Ma. Guadalupe Della, assistant head of the office, said during a briefing at the City Hall Public Information Office that the waste management program operates in Irisan Eco Park, Dontogan, and Sanitary Camp.
“Itong tatlong BSF facilities ngayon ay nag se-service na din po sa central business district ng mga restaurant, kinokolekta na po nila yung mga food waste doon po,” Della said, noting that workers collect food waste directly from downtown establishments.
The Irisan facility serves as the primary processing hub, managing more than 4.6 metric tons of food waste over the past four months while the Dontogan site has processed 1.4 metric tons during the same period.
The newest facility, located at the Baguio Sewage Treatment Plant in Sanitary Camp, processed 1.4 metric tons of food waste in April.
Della said the facilities are increasing larvae production to expand capacity, and officials are studying potential markets to sell the larvae in the future.
The process also generates frass, a nutrient-rich compost. The city currently distributes the frass as a soil conditioner exclusively for public parks.
Della emphasized that the project requires time and community cooperation to succeed.
“Unti-unti po nagkakaroon tayo ng solution para po ma-reduce ang waste dito sa baguio. This is not an overnight solution kaya unti-unti natin itong ginagawa together with our communities and barangays,” Della added.
Funded by the United Nations Development Programme, the initiative aims to establish an efficient method for processing biodegradable waste with the city government conducting monthly learning sessions with barangay leaders to train residents in localized waste reduction efforts. Rommel Fangot Jr. | UC Intern
