Readers should be getting tired of listening to our whines, gripes, and malapropisms in poor attempts to make this our regular space in this section relevant and noteworthy.

We’re looking for positive things to write about.

Last week we helped spread the word about ArtPetron and how it helps encourage the young to take up arts.

This week we’ll tell you about Motolite’s Balik-Baterya Program and how it is helping spread environmental awareness and the proper disposal of old batteries.

The Motolite Balik-Bateya program has been going on for some years now and has been successful in getting many corporations that have extensive motor pools or vehicle fleets to return old batteries to Motolite for proper disposal and recycling.

This year the program has reached Mindanao. The major Mindanao companies -- Davao Light and Power Company, Sumifru Philippines Corporation, and Paglas Corporation – signed on to the program.

Already, Davao Light turned over 570 kgs of used lead acid batteries (ULABS) and Sumifru turned over 2,475 kgs of ULABS as donations to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Both companies said funds generated from the donations will be used for corporate social responsibility projects.

The Balik Baterya program also involves an information campaign to promote environmental awareness and proper disposal and recycling of used batteries conducted by the Corporate Social Responsibility Department of Oriental & Motolite Corporation in partnership with the PBSP.

The campaign drew participants from Earthsavers, Ateneo de Davao University, John Paul II College of Davao, DTI-Davao, and 22 other companies.

Motolite said that as the industry leader in automotive batteries, it has been at the forefront of community-based environmental and health campaigns to encourage the public to return used ULABs for safe disposal and proper recycling.

Motolite said the collection, proper recycling and use of ULABs in the production of new batteries help rid the environment of hazardous wastes.

Batteries indiscriminately disposed of at the end of their useful life could result in toxic materials being spilled onto the ground and into our water systems, or released as dust particles to the air.

The toxic materials in batteries can be hazardous when ingested or inhaled, and can cause serious health problems.

Motolite said an estimated 20 percent of ULABs go to junkers and illegitimate recyclers who do not observe proper disposal methods and recycling process.

The Balik-Baterya Program accepts all types and brands of lead acid batteries from car, truck, motorcycle, boat, forklift, rechargeable lamp, generator, aircrafts, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS). For more details, contact the Balik Baterya Hotlines at (02) 415-1621, 370-1020 and 370-1022.

In another development, we’ve just heard that proponents of e-jeepneys or electric-powered passenger jeepneys are still waiting for the Department of Transportation and Communications, the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transport Franchising Regulatory Board to issue the policies for the certification, registration, and franchises for the operation of e-jeepneys.

It’s been more than six months since the e-jeepneys were launched in the market and the same period of pilot-testing and operations on short routes in Makati and Bacolod should be enough to show whether e-jeepneys are viable, safe, and reliable for public transport service.

The DOTC should get the lead out in coming up with policies and guidelines for the operation of e-jeepneys.