WASTE SEGREGATION. The Rotaract Club of the University of the Philippines Baguio, along with other participants, segregated the thrash they gathered after more than 20 minutes of plogging in four different areas of Baguio City, Benguet, on Saturday, May 20. Photo and caption by Joanna Comia.
The Rotaract Club of the University of the Philippines Baguio’s (UPB) first environmental project for this year, Rotarun Plogging, where people can jog while picking up litter, was held yesterday, May 20, at the Panagbenga Park.
Plogging originated from the Swedish word “plocka upp” (pick up) and the English word jogging. This sustainable initiative combines sports with protecting the environment.
Michaela Saballegue, International Service Director and President-elect of the Rotaract Club of UP Baguio, said the program was pitched and planned last month since they wanted to include an environmental project for this year.
“It’s a really nice volunteering act or movement,” said Saballegue. She also said that apart from exercising and helping nature, people can also interact with other participants.
One participant, Rudy Maximo, learned about the event from the Baguio City Public Information Office’s (PIO) Facebook page posted on May 18. “My experience to the event is very happy and we enjoy plogging while walking and chatting to my group to know each other. It is very important to conduct this event to help our mother earth and conserve cleanliness to our surroundings,” said Maximo.
University of the Cordilleras student Timothy Eli Cada said he participated due to his curiosity in finding out what the event’s motive is.
The event’s motive, according to Genuine Joe Abnasan from Baguio Ploggers, is to “have an avenue for people to contribute. The message is not just to pick up trash after people, but to encourage.”
Cada also said that the event was morally rewarding, but he thought it needed more time to have a greater impact.
“It serves as a good initiative for other people to be conscious about the environment,” said Cada. “It is not much, but a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”
There were four designated plogging areas during the event: Military Cut-off, Loakan, Upper Session Road, and South Drive. According to Saballegue, they were instructed to only give 20 minutes of plogging before they were called to return back to the Panagbenga Park. However, some arrived later because they enjoyed picking up the litter at their assigned areas.
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