The Iloilo City Government is taking a significant step toward a cleaner and more sustainable future with the rollout of Project AGUBAY, a digital initiative designed to strengthen solid waste management at the barangay level. Spearheaded by Raisa Treñas, the program equips local communities with modern tools and systems that improve waste monitoring, segregation, and collection across the city.
Project AGUBAY—short for Awareness, Guidance, Unity, Biodiversity, Action, and Yield—introduces a digital Solid Waste Management Information System that enables barangays to track and report waste management activities in real time. Through the project, 18 pilot barangays in Iloilo City received tablets that allow local officials to submit timely reports and monitor waste-related data more efficiently.
Beyond the tablets, the city also distributed additional equipment to strengthen monitoring capabilities across districts. Each district received computer sets, a printer, and a 75-inch monitoring television, while district cubicles were constructed in seven districts to serve as monitoring hubs. These facilities are designed to support the digital system and provide centralized spaces where data and reports can be reviewed and analyzed.
The initiative also includes Barangay Material Recovery System equipment, reinforcing efforts to improve waste segregation and recycling at the community level. With better tools and systems in place, barangays are expected to enhance sorting practices and streamline waste collection processes.
Training sessions were conducted for barangay officials and local stakeholders to ensure that communities can effectively operate the system. By equipping local leaders with the skills to manage digital reporting and monitoring, the project aims to strengthen grassroots participation in maintaining clean and sustainable neighborhoods.
Mayor Treñas emphasized that the project reflects the city’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship. By integrating digital technology into everyday governance, Iloilo City hopes to empower communities and build a more organized and responsive waste management system.
Project AGUBAY is implemented in partnership with Central Philippine University and the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, organizations that supported the development and implementation of the digital system.
Through this collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector, Iloilo City continues to strengthen its environmental initiatives—promoting responsible waste management while encouraging community participation in building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable City of Love.
