PZC Inaugurates Eco Kolek’s Material Facility with USAID Delegation

In a milestone event that signals a brighter and more sustainable future for Puerto Princesa City, Project Zacchaeus (PZC), in partnership with USAID’s Clean Cities Blue Ocean (CCBO) Program, inaugurated the Eco Kolek Consolidation Facility on March 24, 2022 in Barangay Bancao-Bancao.

The event was made possible through the strong collaboration of key partners, including the Barangay Bancao-Bancao LGU, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the City Government of Puerto Princesa. Their combined commitment reflects the spirit of unity and co-creation needed to address one of the city’s pressing challenges—plastic pollution.

A Facility for Transformation

The newly inaugurated 1,000-square meter consolidation area is designed to be more than just a facility—it is a center of transformation. Equipped with machines to sort, clean, shred, and compact plastic waste, the site will ensure that collected plastics are no longer discarded as trash but instead given a second life. Through a partnership with an upcycling company in Manila, these processed plastics will be turned into new, useful items, completing the cycle of sustainability.

Beyond processing, the facility will also serve as a training hub for Eco-Warriors—informal waste pickers who are now recognized as frontline environmental champions. Here, they will undergo continuous learning to enhance their skills in waste collection, segregation, and recycling, ensuring that they are not only empowered workers but also future leaders in waste management.

Messages of Hope and Vision

During the ceremony, John Edgar, Environment Office Chief of USAID Philippines, expressed optimism about the project’s long-term impact:

“We truly hope that this is going to be a sustainable enterprise for all the Eco-Warriors and that you are going to be able to expand your area and your coverage to be able to collect all wastes and manage them properly here in the beautiful City of Puerto Princesa.”

In his welcome remarks, John Vincent Gastanes, Founder of Project Zacchaeus, emphasized the deeper vision of Eco Kolek, highlighting that the project is not just about waste but also about dignity, livelihood, and community transformation:

“Our dream is that someday we can move our Eco-Warriors where they can have a better home, have their children in a good school, and serve them better in this kind of industry. Our empowered Eco-Warriors will run this facility with us, and they will be our future managers.”

Empowering Eco-Warriors

The event also marked the formal launching of 60 Eco-Warriors, who will lead waste collection efforts across Puerto Princesa. These Eco-Warriors will initially serve pilot communities and business establishments before expanding into wider routes across the city. Clad in their new uniforms and filled with renewed purpose, the Eco-Warriors symbolize both resilience and transformation—proof that informal workers, when empowered, can become critical partners in building sustainable cities.

A Collective Effort

The momentous event was attended by esteemed guests, including:

• John Angin, USAID CCBO Chief of Party

• Renerio Acosta, CCBO Asia Regional Director

• Marian Navata, USAID Urban Planning Specialist

• Bryan Stirrat, Tetra Tech Managing Director

• Claire Bea, US Embassy Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer

• Melinda Donelly, Tetra Tech Director of Program Coordination, External Affairs, and Communications

• Members of the CCBO Team

• Councilor JR John Garcia, representing Barangay Captain Gayjun Dangan of Bancao-Bancao LGU

Their presence affirmed the strong collaboration between local and international partners, government, and the community in building innovative, people-centered solutions to environmental issues.

A New Chapter for Puerto Princesa

The inauguration of this facility is more than just a celebration of infrastructure—it is the beginning of a new chapter for Puerto Princesa City. It represents what can be achieved when vision, partnership, and grassroots empowerment come together. With Eco Kolek at the forefront, supported by global and local allies, the city takes one more step closer to a future where communities thrive, the environment is protected, and dignity is restored to those who once stood in the margins.

🌿💙 Together, we rise as stewards of the planet—one Eco-Warrior, one community, one partnership at a time.

#projectzacchaeus #ecokolek #USAID #CCBO #Sustainability #ServantLeadership #PublicPrivatePartnership #CleanCitiesBlueOcean #WasteManagement