PHILUSA Supports Circular Waste Recovery Through Adoption of Aling Tindera MRF in Bulacan
PHILUSA Corporation continues to advance its sustainability agenda through a partnership with the PCX Markets and HOPE, supporting the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 while pursuing initiatives that extend beyond regulatory requirements.
As part of this effort, PHILUSA adopted and refurbished an Aling Tindera Program collection site located at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Marilao, Bulacan. The initiative was made possible through the sponsorship of PHILUSA’s brands, including Cleene, Babyflo, MEDIPLAST, Albatross, Apollo, Gleam, RHEA, and Love My Honey.
PHILUSA Visits Marilao MRF
The Marilao site was visited by PHILUSA representatives on March 11 to observe the program’s operations and meet the individuals supporting the community-led waste recovery effort. Leading the delegation was Neogin Evangelista, President and General Manager of PHILUSA, joined by Marketing Leads Giezel Jane Sarmiento and Rachel Enciso-Supremo, as well as Rosemarie Panganiban, HR Manager; Rene Amane, Supply Chain Manager; Cristopher Arellano, Purchasing Manager; and Alysza Mariella Buenaventura, PHILUSA’s appointed EPR Officer and Sustainability Manager.
Located at Liwasang Pangkalikasan, the Marilao MRF is among the largest MRFs in the province of Bulacan. The facility functions as a central drop-off point where plastic waste collected from barangays across the municipality is consolidated before being sorted and sent to recycling or end-of-life processing partners.
The site also houses an Aling Tindera collection hub that supports the municipality’s solid waste management efforts by diverting plastics away from landfills. As one of the pioneer Aling Tindera sites in Bulacan, the Marilao MRF has received several recognitions for its solid waste management initiatives and has contributed to positioning Marilao as a model municipality for sustainable waste recovery and community-based recycling efforts.
From its inception in January 2022 until February 2026, the Marilao MRF has diverted a total of 1,727,990 kilograms of plastic waste while generating ₱4,319,975 in community revenue, providing both environmental and economic value for the municipality and its residents.
Addressing the Philippines’ Plastic Waste Challenge
The project was undertaken in response to the country’s continuing plastic waste challenge. In an article published on January 5, 2026 in the Manila Bulletin, journalist Ricardo M. Austria reported that the Philippines remains among the world’s leading contributors to marine plastic pollution, citing a study by the World Bank.
The article referenced the World Bank report “Tackling a National Crisis: How the World Bank is Paving the Way for a More Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in the Philippines,” which estimates that the country releases more than 0.3 million metric tons of plastic into the ocean each year, equivalent to 8.8 percent of its mismanaged plastic waste.
The report also cited persistent gaps in infrastructure, governance, policy enforcement, and technical capacity that continue to hinder the development of a sustainable and circular solid waste management system in the Philippines—conditions that make partnerships among the private sector, local governments, and communities increasingly important.
Through the adoption of the Aling Tindera collection site in Marilao, PHILUSA aims to contribute to practical waste recovery solutions while supporting livelihood opportunities within the community.
Empowering Communities Through the Aling Tindera Program
At the center of the Aling Tindera site in Marilao, Bulacan is Evelyn Garcia, more widely known as Aling Belen, a 50-year-old sari-sari store owner who serves as the beneficiary of PHILUSA’s adoption of the facility.
Aling Belen manages one of the program’s top-performing sites, handling an average of 4,000 kilograms of plastic waste each week. A key factor behind this performance is her close coordination with Marilao’s volunteer waste pickers known locally as the Red Ants.
Recognizable in their red shirts and often seen atop towering piles of garbage, much like ants, the group collects and sorts waste materials that can still be recovered. Cartons and metals are sold to nearby junk shops, while plastics are directed to Aling Belen through the Aling Tindera program. This arrangement provides a steady outlet for recovered plastics while helping reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills.
Before joining the program, many members of the Red Ants relied on irregular earnings. On good days they could earn up to ₱700, but income could fall to ₱150 during lean periods. Through the Aling Tindera network, the group now has a consistent channel for selling collected plastics, allowing daily earnings to reach as much as ₱2,000.
The program has also opened new opportunities for Aling Belen herself. Over time, she established a trucking service that transports plastics from Aling Tindera sites across Bulacan to processing partners responsible for end-of-life recycling and recovery.
This development not only strengthens the province’s waste diversion efforts but also provides additional income streams for community members involved in collection, sorting, and transport, while supporting women micro-entrepreneurs in gaining income through green jobs.
Through partnerships that link environmental responsibility with livelihood support, PHILUSA’s adoption of the Marilao Aling Tindera site contributes to ongoing efforts to reduce plastic waste while creating economic value within local communities, staying true to its promise of touching lives and serving as a “Katuwang ng Tahanang Pilipino.”
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