To ensure transparency and accuracy in its solid waste management efforts, the Iloilo City Government has rolled out a new monitoring system called AGUBAY (Awareness, Guidance, Unity, Biodiversity, Action, Yield).
This innovative project tracks waste diversion in real time starting right from the source — households and barangays, said engineer Neil Ravena, head of the city’s General Services Office (GSO).
AGUBAY, he explained, provides an online platform where barangay officials can upload data on waste segregation and diversion, allowing city authorities to closely monitor how much garbage is being diverted before it even leaves the community.
“Transparency is key. The system lets us verify if barangays and households are actually segregating and diverting their waste as required,” Ravena said. “We can see accurate data from the ground level, which helps us identify gaps and measure progress.”
As part of the city’s 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan, AGUBAY was developed in partnership with Central Philippine University. The city’s 180 barangays are grouped into clusters of 30 barangays each and receive training on how to use the system and interpret the data from the online platform.
Each barangay is provided with a tablet connected to the main system, enabling real-time updates on waste diversion performance. “This allows everyone — from barangay officials to city managers — to track the actual amount of waste diverted from the source,” Ravena added.
By closely monitoring these figures, the city aims to reduce the volume of residual waste sent to landfills and increase the diversion rate. Ravena said this is also part of Iloilo City’s broader climate change mitigation strategy.
He also called on residents to support the program by practicing proper waste segregation at home. “Many recyclable materials have economic value and can be repurposed for other uses,” he noted.
With this new system, Iloilo City hopes to foster greater accountability and cooperation among barangays and households alike, making the city cleaner and more environmentally sustainable.IMT
