Total Recyclables Collected: 308,286 kilos
Eco Warriors Gain Legal Status as DOLE Registers SMPP Workers’ Group
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has officially registered the Samahang Mangangalakal ng Puerto Princesa (SMPP) as a legitimate workers’ association, marking a milestone in the professionalization of the city’s informal waste sector. The registration, finalized on January 12, 2026, provides legal identity to the "Eco Warriors" organized under Project Zacchaeus’ Eco-Kolek program. This formal recognition transitions the group from an informal collection of individuals into a structured labor organization capable of collective bargaining and legal representation.
by Mitchell Gimena
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has officially registered the Samahang Mangangalakal ng Puerto Princesa (SMPP) as a legitimate workers’ association, marking a milestone in the professionalization of the city’s informal waste sector.
The registration, finalized on January 12, 2026, provides legal identity to the "Eco Warriors" organized under Project Zacchaeus’ Eco-Kolek program. This formal recognition transitions the group from an informal collection of individuals into a structured labor organization capable of collective bargaining and legal representation.
Legal Identity and Social Protection
By securing a DOLE Certificate of Registration, SMPP is now eligible to access national government labor programs, social protection services, and capacity-building initiatives. The certification acts as a primary requirement for the association to engage in formal contracts and partner with both public and private institutions.
"This recognition strengthens the organization’s credibility and capacity to engage with government agencies," the post-activity report stated. "It opens critical opportunities for members to access social protection services that were previously unavailable to them as informal workers."
Institutionalizing the Circular Economy
The SMPP serves as the operational backbone of the Eco-Kolek program, which focuses on community-based plastic recovery and waste diversion. The formalization of the association reinforces the role of waste collectors as essential service providers within Puerto Princesa’s circular economy.
Association President Glen Castronuevo, alongside Eco-Kolek leadership, received the certification at the DOLE Puerto Princesa office. The move is expected to enhance the collective voice of the workers, ensuring their rights and welfare are protected while they contribute to the city's environmental sustainability goals.
The registration of SMPP is viewed by industry observers as a scalable model for integrating informal waste sectors into formal local government waste management frameworks across the Philippines.