Stakeholders Unite for “Yucks to Yey!
” Waste Management and Segregation Drive in Igang,
Pototan
By Stephen C. Perez | October 17, 2025 | Igang, Pototan, Iloilo
Around 50 community members, local officials, and educators gathered in Barangay Igang,
Pototan, Iloilo on Friday for the School of Education (SOEd) Extension Training on Proper Waste
Segregation, a community-driven initiative titled “Yucks to Yey! (Y2Y): A Waste Management
and Gardening Project.”
Organised by the West Visayas State University–Pototan Campus (WVSU-PC), the event sought
to orient local stakeholders on sustainable waste management and to strengthen collaboration
among government agencies, the academe, and the community.
The morning session opened with remarks from Hon. Melchor B. Mogato, Punong Barangay of
Igang, who welcomed participants and underscored the importance of shared responsibility in
environmental care. This was followed by messages from Dr. Marlene S. Gloria, Director of the
School of Education, and Dr. Raquel P. Pedrajas, Director for Research, Extension, and
Innovation. Both affirmed the university’s commitment to developing programs that blend
environmental awareness with practical community engagement.
Representatives from partner local government units and offices also shared their support. Mr.
Kent Roger P. Peñaflorida, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, and Mr.
Gilbert Quimba, Municipal Agriculturist from the Department of Agriculture—ably represented
by Mr. John Lene Peniel F. Acanto—stressed that cooperation among stakeholders is vital to
ensuring the project’s long-term impact. Hon. Rey Umalay, Sangguniang Bayan Member, also
graced the event through a recorded speech, affirming the municipal government’s backing for
grassroots environmental programs.
Dr. Mae B. Angeles, Project Leader, presented the background and timeline of Yucks to Yey!,
highlighting how the initiative transforms common waste materials into useful gardening
components—literally turning “yucks” into “yeys.” Meanwhile, Dr. Nove D. Jalandoni, Director
for Academic Affairs and GAD Coordinator, conducted a Values Orientation Seminar, linking
environmental responsibility to social consciousness and local values.
In the afternoon, the highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement/Memorandum
of Understanding (MOA/MOU) between WVSU-Pototan Campus and partner agencies. The
signatories included Mr. Kent Roger P. Peñaflorida, Mr. Gilbert Quimba (represented by Mr.
Acanto), Hon. Ermalyn Sumergido, Barangay Kagawad of Igang, and Dr. Raquel P. Pedrajas for
WVSU-PC.
Participants also took part in the Signing of Commitment, expressing their pledge to practise
proper waste segregation and support sustainable gardening in their households and
communities. The event concluded with the evaluation of IEC materials, closing remarks by Ms.
Ermalyn Sumergido, and a photo opportunity.
Dr. Paul Ramsey Belencion served as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Yucks to Yey! project forms part of WVSU-Pototan Campus’s broader extension efforts to
promote environmental literacy and sustainable development. More than a single-day event, it
represents a growing movement—one that seeks to transform local habits and cultivate a
culture of care for both people and [Link]