SBCA expresses its commitment to environmental stewardship and Pope Francis’ call to Laudato Si by officially launching the newly constructed Material Recovery Facility (MRF) on Dec. 6 at the MRF Building, which was blessed and presided over by Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB.

     In his opening message, Dr. Luisito Padolina, EDL, the Manager of Environment, Health, Safety, and Data Privacy, began by sharing a brief backstory on the MRF, which started during the pandemic. The MRF was initially a makeshift area where all the garbage was temporarily stored, which would later be held by the holding services. Despite its existence over the years, no coordinated effort would help address waste management. 

     “All of us deserve to live in a world where the beauty of nature is preserved,” Fr. De Villa said in his opening remarks. The Rector-President reminded everyone that as stewards of the environment, it is our responsibility to keep nature pure for future Bedan generations. He calls on everyone to make conscious choices and advocate for sustainable practices to cultivate an environment where eco-consciousness thrives.

     Fr. De Villa pointed out that we should erase the concept of basura from our vocabulary and instead view it as a valuable resource. By looking at materials in through his lens, we can positively contribute to Pope Francis’ call of Laudato Si.

     Ms. Antoinette Taus, founder and executive director of Project CORA, joined the ceremony to seal the partnership between SBCA and Project CORA. The event marked their shared commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment.

     Inn her speech, she emphasized the importance of “reduce, reuse, recycle” in environmental conservation. The Project CORA founder ended her speech by highlighting love, courage, and purpose as three essential values. “When we speak of Laudato Si, we speak of the love and care that we give for all our creation,” she said.

     After the program, the Memorandum of Agreement for a partnership between SBCA and Project Cora was signed at the Rector’s Office at St. Maur Hall. Through this partnership, Project CORA will help the campus manage ineffective waste while actively contributing to Laudato Si.