Baguio promotes recycled materials in Ibag-iw, Christmas festivities

BAGUIO CITY—The city government is incorporatig its circular economy program into major public celebrations, including the ongping Ibag-iw Creative Festival and Christmas events, to reduce waste and promote the reuse of materials.

According to Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the initiative is part of the city’s “Pansa-nopen Tayo” program, which promotes responsible resource use by treating discarded materials as resources that can be reused or transformed into useful products.

READ: Refill vending machine tested in Baguio to reduce plastic waste

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The initiative was first implemented during the Baguio Flower Festival in February, when organizers introduced waste reduction and management measures across festival venues. These included the use of recyclable cutlery, filtered water instead of single-use bottled water, efficient waste collection, and an incentivized waste segregation and recyclable exchange program.

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The circularity campaign was also carried into the city’s 117th Baguio Day celebration in September, which carried the theme “Everlasting Baguio: Cultivating Circularity.”

City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the same approach will be applied to the Ibag-iw Creative Festival this November and the city’s Christmas activities in December.

For Ibag-iw, activities will include a contemporary art exhibit featuring artworks made from scrap materials by students under the mentorship of professional artists, as well as a crafts exhibition highlighting recycled products.

The festival’s opening gala will also feature a musical production titled “Rikus,” which will introduce the concept of circularity through Cordilleran culture.

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For the Christmas celebrations, the city will use recycled materials for decorations and installations. Local artists have been commissioned to create Christmas displays while minimizing the use of newly purchased commercial decorative materials.

Mapalo said the initiative aims to demonstrate how public celebrations can promote environmental responsibility while providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their creativity.

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The city hopes to encourage the creative reuse of materials, minimize waste and support local artists through the integration of circularity into its major events. /jpv