Tagubanhan, a close-knit community in Ajuy, Iloilo, is home to 1,063 individuals working together to build a secure and prosperous life on their island. This past May, after years of perseverance, they finally gained access to electricity. But even with this progress, their journey is far from over. Located an hour from the mainland, the island faces significant ecological challenges, and one of the biggest is plastic waste.

Recognsing this growing issue, the community, under the leadership of their village head, launched an inspiring initiative known as BARTER BASURA, or Trash Exchange.

Through this system, properly segregated trash is exchanged for essential goods like laundry detergent, school supplies, and rice. It’s a simple yet powerful model that addresses both the waste problem and the community’s basic needs.

What drives this initiative is the deep love the people of Tagubanhan have for their island. With the strong backing of their Local Government Unit and the Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Office, they have kept this project alive and thriving.

Though they understand the broader responsibility for plastic waste doesn’t rest solely on their shoulders, they choose to act, driven by a vision of a cleaner, healthier community.

Here’s to the people of Tagubanhan, whose collective efforts remind us that real change often starts with those who care deeply. We just need to begin where we are. Their journey inspires us all to rethink our own choices, for the sake of our shared environment.

WRITER: Lady Kyla Balibagoso

LEAD VIDEOGRAPHER: Jasper Angelo Chin Nobleza

VIDEOGRAPHER: Wilfred Dorilag

EDITOR: Charisse Pingul