ASIDE from a drug-rehabilitation program, Wayback Academy, a drug-rehabilitation center in Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City, is getting involved in waste-management solution to preserve the place as a tourist destination.
Wayback Academy was established following the launching of Wayback Olango (WO) program by a retired social worker and organizer in Norway, Bjorn Norman, 74, who—since President Duterte began his campaign against illegal drugs—has been working to establish in the island a professional treatment center for drug surrenderers.
The center is a registered social nonprofit organization headed by Rose Jumao-as as president, with Norman as senior adviser.
Norman said WO would like to offer its help to establish an active strategy, in cooperation with the concerned officials, that focuses on processing (and recycling) collected waste.
“An incremental implementation seems the best approach for this. A touristic destination like Olango Island really needs its own proper waste-management solutions,” he said.
Norman, brought to Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City the US-founded Narcotics Anonymous (NA) treatment program for drug surrenderers.
He added most folks are not aware of the implications of dumping their plastic everywhere.
It is estimated that unprocessed plastic waste can take up to 450 years to decompose in the environment, while 3 percent to 5 percent additional plastic waste is being added to the environment every year globally.
“So, let’s recycle our plastic, among other waste products, more efficiently on Olango because the smallest plastic particles find their way into the marine life’s food chain is largely part of our own food chain, too,” Norman said.
He recognized that, sadly, there’s still a major pollution problem in Asia, not just here in the Philippines, but Norman said WO can guide its clients to a better understanding of sustainability in the environment.
“When they are involved in this transformation, they actively contribute to a better, cleaner and more developed Olango. They can be part of the plans and solutions to tackle environmental degradation,” he said.
Norman added they have started negotiations with local officials responsible for Olango’s waste center where, currently, no proper sorting is done.
“Together, we want to, and can, improve this and create useful resources and products with the recycled plastics and other wastes. We hope the Lapu-Lapu government will also support us in these efforts. Currently, there is a regular waste-collection program but that isn’t sufficient,” he said.
On August 11 the Wayback Olango program was officially launched in Barangay Sabang.
In Sabang, while 10 drug surrenderers have relapsed and dropped out, Norman said they already have more than 20 clients who are active in their rehab program and 32 are showing progress.