Total Recyclables Collected: 308,286 kilos
120 San Miguel Students Champion Plastic Recovery in PZC, EU-GEPP Partnership Roadshow
Project Zacchaeus (PZC), through its Eco-Kolek program, successfully engaged 120 students from San Miguel National High School in a Circular Economy Roadshow aimed at mobilizing the youth against plastic pollution. The event was conducted in coordination with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership. The roadshow serves as a technical orientation to transition the next generation of leaders from a traditional "linear" waste model to an inclusive "circular" system that prioritizes resource recovery and community livelihoods.
by: Mitchell GImena
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Project Zacchaeus (PZC), through its Eco-Kolek program, successfully engaged 120 students from San Miguel National High School in a Circular Economy Roadshow aimed at mobilizing the youth against plastic pollution. The event was conducted in coordination with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership.
The roadshow serves as a technical orientation to transition the next generation of leaders from a traditional "linear" waste model to an inclusive "circular" system that prioritizes resource recovery and community livelihoods.
Strategic Impact of 120 Youth Leaders
With 120 participants, the San Miguel National High School leg represents one of the largest student cohorts engaged in the program. The curriculum focused on the "Waste-to-Resource" framework, educating students on how properly segregated plastic materials serve as the feedstock for a sustainable economy rather than ending up as marine litter.
The presence of international partners PEMSEA and the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership underscores the project’s alignment with global standards for environmental resilience and the professionalization of the informal waste sector.
Institutionalizing Green Stewardship
The roadshow challenged students to act as household influencers, ensuring that waste generated at the domestic level is segregated to support the recovery efforts of the Eco Warriors. By fostering this "Green Culture" within the campus, PZC aims to create a consistent and high-quality stream of recyclable materials that supports the livelihoods of local waste workers.
"Engaging 120 students at San Miguel National High School is a massive step toward community-wide behavioral change," PZC officials noted. "When the youth understand the economic and environmental value of waste, they become the most effective advocates for a cleaner, more inclusive Puerto Princesa."
This outreach further solidifies the collaborative framework between local environmental initiatives and international development partners in protecting Palawan’s unique ecosystems.
