Trash in Gold and Fame

by Ernesto T. Solidum

Ms. Racel I. Gomez, former Mayor Ernesto I. Templonuevo, Mayor Elvirita Templonuevo, Dir. Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr., DTI Provincial Director, Hon. Jerome T. Vega, representing Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Ms. Brenda I. Marte, Municipal Agricultural Officer, the picture above shows.

Former Mayor Ernesto I. Templonuevo of Numancia, Aklan does not believe that gold needs to be mined from the bowels of the earth. It exists here and there even right in our fingertips. However, the precious mineral has no monetary and aesthetic value unless purified through a scientific process where it could be enjoyed forever.

Discovery of black gold actually first came out from market trash heap at the back of a public market of Numancia. In 1989, the former Mayor Templonuevo had the big problem of disposing filthy garbage where no dumping site exists. While mulling over the problem, he received an invitation to attend a Municipal Mayor’s convention.

"It was in this conference that a portable shredder was introduced that pulverizes the different kinds of waste defficiently. I immediately thought of our problem on garbage back home," he recalled.

Acquisition cost of P450,000 did not deter him to bring the machine to Numancia. Okey, the gadget gobbled up the trash in a matter of hours. Now comes another problem. What to do with converted trash? Definitely during that time, it was not saleable.

Fortunately, a UN Volunteer from Thailand advised him to feed them to earthworms. It is indeed unbelievable. Yes, you heard me right.

In 2005, Templonuevo attended the 1st International Symposium on Vermiculture at Los Baños, Laguna. Participants were given hands on training in addition to lectures and field visitation. A businessman by occupation, he called it one of the best things that happened in his life.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2004 had a program on One Town, One Product (OTOP) where Numancia listed Organic Fertilizer Production as its project. This led to the organization of Numancia Vermicast Producers MPC with Ms. Racel I. Gomez as chairperson. The coop is recipient of a P300,000 loan through Cooperative Development Authority which is now partly paid.

Production of vermicast fertilizer were undertaken by 22 active members each one securing shredded waste material from market depot. Of course supplemental feed for African Night Crawler Specie of earthworm also comes from agricultural wastes which are abundant.

The bulk of the finished products of the coop find its way to the members who are big time farmers themselves. For instance E.I. Templonuevo operates a 6.0 hectare rice farm while other members like Dr. Florencia F. Villorente and her son, Jun. had a similar area but integrated to rice, aquaculture and vegetables.

"About two-thirds of our daily production is sold in the open market, "says the energetic businessman. "Our production capacity of pure varmicast is 5 tons per week while mixed organic fertilizers (vermicast, carbonized rice hull, rock phosphate and chicken dung) is 5 tons per day. The price of pure vermicast is P400.00 per bag (50 kgms) while mixed fertilizer is P220.00. However , we do not exceed production potentials because of slackened market demand due to El Niño phenomenon," related Templonuevo.

The Municipality of Numancia under Mayor Elverita T. Templonuevo is national awardee as Best OTOP Implementor, DTI under Agri-Aqua sector on March 12, 2010. Prize comes with a trophy and cash gift of P220,000 during a ceremony held at the Philippine Trade Training Center, Manila. This is remarkable since recipients were limited to three in Luzon, one in Visayas and one in Mindanao.

It would be recalled that on July 14, 2009 during the first OTOP congress in Aklan, Numancia was awarded Most Outstanding OTOP MSME Implementer by DTI.

Converting waste into fertilizer may turn off most people but impact on health, environment and livelihood could be tremendous. Numancia’s earthworm farms are continuously visited by foreign dignitaries, technocrats, farmers, leaders, and educators. In all probability, shifting to organic fertilizer could be the best alternative farm investment now and in the foreseeable future. /MP