Heads and officers of Green Antz Builders and the Ayala Corporation with Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Marcos-Araneta and Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ilocos Norte Eco Hub located at Brgy. Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte. (Green Antz Builders photo)
By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Piddig, Ilocos Norte—First in Ilocos.
The Green Antz Builders and the Ayala Renewable Energy Corporation in cooperation with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte and the municipal government of Piddig launched the first EcoHub recycling facility, dubbed as Green Antz Ilocos Norte EcoHub, with the ground breaking ceremony held at Sitio Bato, Brgy. 6 Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte on July 30, 2021.
The “eco-friendly project” aims to convert plastic wastes into hollow blocks and bricks for construction purposes.
Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen thanked the two big companies as this project is part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Ilocos Norte for choosing Piddig as the pilot area in this conversion project which will also create job opportunities, especially in this time of pandemic.
Guillen added that the project will not only focus on the collection of plastic wastes in Piddig but also nearby towns and cities, as well.
He explained that the plastic wastes will be shredded as additional mixture in the making of hollow blocks or bricks.
Output products will be sold to Ayala Corporation for their infrastructure projects.
“This project is very timely ta ngamin approve met tay 10-year solid waste management plan min kenapproved payen iti sanitary landfill tayo ken datayo pay iti maysa ngaimmuna a naka comply iti solid waste management system,” Guillen disclosed.
The 2,000-square meter joint venture project of Green Antz and Ayala Corporation will establish the project without the municipality’s counterpart.
He further state that his constituents especially the hollow block makers have nothing to worry about since there will be no competition.
“Ta ngamin sabali a klase nga hollow blocks iti maaramid ditoy maikompera kadagitay normal ngahollow blocks ken maymaysa iti manggatang kadagiti maaramid isu iti Ayala Corporation,” Guillen stressed.
Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Marcos Araneta, former Piddig Mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen, Rev. Father Geronio Cabanos Jr., president and director of Sustainable Eco Products Corporation Mon Manotok and Mandy Marcos, North Wind Power Development Corporation CSR manager Raymund Sesuca, Forestry and Environment Senior Manager of AC Energy Forester Ed Angadol, Northern Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation deputy plant manager Engr. Gerry Ico, PENRO officer Estrella Baby Sacro, and Green Antz Builders Inc. Administrative Director and Operations Manager Ma. Concepcion Banig and Rex Concepcion attended the event.