By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Worn-out Philippine polymer banknotes are finding new life in public school classrooms after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Employees Association Inc. (BSPEAI) donated nearly 100 armchairs made entirely from recycled polymer currency to a public elementary school in Davao City.
The donation, formally turned over on July 22 to Doña Pilar L. Marfori Elementary School, forms part of the Banknote-to-Armchair Project, a sustainability initiative that converts unfit polymer banknotes and production scraps into durable classroom furniture.
The project is being implemented through BSPEAI’s partnership with Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc., a private firm specializing in waste recycling and resource recovery.
Leading the turnover ceremony were BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, BSP Mindanao Regional Office Officer-in-Charge Jason Capocao, BSPEAI President Brent Lucero, and Currency Policy and Integrity Department Director Eloisa Glindro.
Tangonan said the initiative demonstrates that polymer banknotes are designed with environmental sustainability in mind, even after they have reached the end of their circulation life.
“End-of-life management is built into their design,” Tangonan said.
Lucero explained that the recipient school was selected after evaluating educational institutions with pressing classroom furniture requirements.
The BSP underscored the durability of polymer banknotes, describing them as cleaner, stronger, and longer-lasting than conventional paper currency.
Central bank data showed that from 2022 to May 2026, only 0.02 percent of the ₱1,000 polymer banknotes released to banks were returned as worn-out or damaged.
In contrast, 54.75 percent of the ₱1,000 paper banknotes issued during the same period were returned due to wear and tear.
The BSP also reported that it has yet to receive any lower-denomination polymer banknotes deemed unfit for circulation since they were introduced in December 2024, highlighting the material’s exceptional durability.
Officials said the recycling initiative reflects the BSP’s continuing commitment to sustainable currency management while extending practical assistance to public schools through innovative environmental programs.
ia/xf
