Lawmakers Push Nationwide ‘Basura Palit Bigas’ Program in Congress
A new bill filed in the House of Representatives is seeking to expand a ‘Basura Palit Bigas’ program across the country, especially in Metro Manila.
House Bill 7781, also known as the Walang Plastikan, Palit-Bigas Act, was authored by Pampanga Representative Carmelo Lazatin Jr. The proposal aims to allow people to exchange collected waste, particularly plastic, for rice
The lawmaker said the country needs to take the garbage problem more seriously, especially plastic waste that does not break down easily and often clogs waterways. Blocked drainage systems can lead to flooding and also pose risks to public health.
Based on data from the World Bank’s What a Waste Global Database in 2025, around 11.2 billion tons of solid waste are collected worldwide, although a large amount still goes uncollected. The same report showed that the Philippines produces about 14.6 million tons of municipal solid waste each year.
Among 50 countries studied, the Philippines ranked 27th in terms of waste generation. Because of these figures, Lazatin is pushing to strengthen Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Lazatin is also calling for funds to purchase rice that will be used in exchange for plastic waste surrendered by citizens. The idea was inspired by programs already being implemented in places like Angeles City in Pampanga, as well as towns in Cavite, Masbate, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.
In Angeles City alone, more than 2.9 million kilograms of plastic waste were collected within 15 months. The collected plastic was sorted and turned into eco-bricks, helping reduce disposal costs.
While the bill does not yet specify how much rice will be given per kilo of plastic, the lawmaker believes the program can both protect the environment and help families with their daily food needs.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the proposal:
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