Miners’ wives learn vermiculture to lessen household wastes

Jing Godio

ITOGON, Benguet -- The Cordillera Ecological Center – PINE TREE recently provided a two day training on vermiculture to 30 housewives of miners an effort to lessen household wastes generated at bunkhouses in Balatoc mines.

The training was conducted because of an invitation by the Mines and Geological Bureau of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources and Benguet Corp. Inc. (BCI), a gold mining company operating here in Barangay Virac.

The training is part of the joint efforts of BCI and Barangay Virac for their solid waste management program.

The organizers said that vermiculture is an effective approach in dealing with houselhold wastes by barangay residents especially those living in bunkhouses.

They invited Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan, director of PINE TREE to conduct training. Dr. Bengwayan is a vermiculture enthusiast and has a vermiform at Longlong, La Trinidad. He was the resource person of the 2-day training.

The first day consisted mostly of lectures and the second day was a field trip at the PINE TREE vermiform. There, the participants had a demonstration and practicum on vermiculture. On the same day, each participant also made their individual one-year action plans in relation to their solid waste management practice including vermiculture.

PINE TREE provided free African night crawler earthworms for all training participants.
Vermiculture is a farming of earthworms. Earthworm or vermi helps decompose organic materials by digesting them. Their poop, also called vermicast, or worm castings, contain rich organic nutrients which can improve the texture and fertility of soil.

The methods and maintenance of earthworm farming was tought to the participants. Although the training focused on vermiculture, Dr. Bengwayan said that it is more important to re-orient the participants with environmental conservation and how important individual acts are in answering the problem of global warming.

He reviewed the participants on their knowledge of solid waste management. He then gave them techniques on how to minimize production of garbage so that they will have litte waste to manage.

Throughout the lecture, he reiterated that love for the environment and nature is foundations of earth conservation. He also established their connection to taking care of the welfare of their children, a point which the participants took as an important one.

The participants welcomed the lessons they learned. They actually showed enthusiasm during the training through their questions and sharing. They also raised concern on how to share what they have learned to their neighbors but fear they they will not be open to the idea.

Bengwayan told them that it could be difficult to teach other people let alone change their views and attitudes. One can only try again and again while participating what he/she preaches. As an answer to these questions, he tackled communication skills and leadership training including techniques on how to deal with difficult members of on organization.

Most of the participants are mother and leaders, or kapitana, of their bunkhouse. Bunkhouse is the common housing system of most mining companies. It consists of one room built like an apartment but has communal kitchen and toilet.

Over the years, the residents got used to the idea that someone cleans up their own trash and surroundings. Now that the privilege is gone, some of them simply do not want to take the responsibility. Given the limited space in bunkhouses, improper waste management of one household could affect the others.

Other participants included sitio leaders and representative of one local elementary school. The participants were each given a worm bin which they themselves built. They are expected to take them home and maintain them.

The training certificates will only be given when they are able to prove that they practice what they have learned during the training. Officers of Barangay Virac and staff of BCI will regularly monitor how they manage their worm bins and see if they follow their action plans.

According to Gibbrylyn Merez, BCI’s community development officer, incentives will be given to the individuals when they successfully manage their bins.