Groups build classrooms one recycled brick at a time

MAGALANG, PAMPANGA— Plastic bottles stuffed with shredded waste materials were transformed into a classroom for 50 Grade 1 pupils at San Agustin Elementary School here as part of a group’s environmental campaign.

The construction of the classroom saw 1,900 kilograms of plastic waste placed in 8,848 ecobricks that were collected and donated by several groups and individuals.

The bricks are made of recycled plastic bottles, mostly for 1.5 liters and 500 milliliters, filled to the lid with a heap of rubbish.

Spanning 7 meters by 9 m, the new structure was launched last week and became the 17th classroom in the school.

It was the second one that the project proponent, Kapampangan Manalakaran Inc. (Kamai), built after the first unit in Barangay San Pablo in Lubao town, also in Pampanga, in 2017.

Kamai is a nongovernment group engaged in disaster preparedness and community development.

The project is “especially amazing” because several people and groups helped put the classroom together, said former Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, Kamai chair and president.

Donations

Each of the 467 students gave one or two ecobricks, according to Teodora Bulanadi, the school’s officer in charge.

Digital solutions firm, Telus International Philippines, donated P523,000 while its 1,500 employees gave 1,000 ecobricks and 100 armchairs made by the Tahanang Walang Hagdan. Erwin Dizon gave 1,500 ecobricks, which replaced hollow blocks.

Kamai donors pitched P200,000 to buy cement and steel roof.