The Davao City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) is once again calling all Dabawenyos and barangay authorities to collect used cooking oil to be processed into biodiesel through the city’s oil refinery.
The collection of used cooking oil at the barangay level, which started in October 2017, was temporarily put on hold as this system became too unreliable as source for the city’s Bio Diesel Fuel Plant (BDFP). This prompted the city to resort to local restaurants and fast-food establishments for a steady supply of used oil.
However, the CENRO is once again collecting used cooking oil at the barangay level for the production of biofuel. Aside from this, about 10 percent of the collected oil is used as raw material in breaking down biodegradable wastes into compost. This program also aims to reduce the presence of cooking oil in the city’s waterways and canals, which can coagulate and worsen flooding in the city.
According to CENRO Information Education Campaign Unit Spokesperson Mr. Orly Limpangog, during the pilot episode of the ‘Go Clean, Go Green’ program aired through the Davao City Disaster Radio on June 21, 2022, CENRO is encouraging anew all Dabawenyos not to dump their used cooking oil but instead gather them so that authorities at the barangay level can collect these from each household. The collected oil can then be turned over to the city’s oil refinery located at the CENRO composting facility in Barangay Ma-a.
“Among gina-awhag ang atong mga residente sa Dabaw na kanang inyohang mga used cooking oil ayaw intawon ninyo ilabay sa atong mga waterways, sa atong mga canal; tiguma na ninyo mga kaigsoonan kay adunay programa amoang opisina para ana (We are urging all residents of Davao City not to dump their used cooking oil on the city’s waterways and canals; gather them because our office has a program for this),” Limpangog said.
Limpangog added that barangays with their own waste collection vehicles can avail of biodiesel subsidies from CENRO if they deliver their collected wastes to the city’s sanitary landfills. He said, “Magcompensate mi sa ila og fuel … Kung magpatubil sila’g twenty, muhatag mi’g twenty liters na biodiesel (We will compensate them with fuel … If they need 20 liters to refuel, we will give them 20 liters of biodiesel).”
Several barangays—such as barangay Hizon, Mintal, and Sasa—have already established their own used cooking oil collection system. The CENRO is urging all barangays to participate in this project and set up their own scheme of oil collection.
The city’s biodiesel fuel plant—funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)—has produced almost 200, 000 liters of biodiesel since its launch in August 2017 up to April 2022. It has been providing fuel for the city’s compactor trucks and
