Sta. Monica Students Champion Circular Economy in PZC-International Roadshow
The roadshow serves as a critical educational pillar of the Eco-Kolek model, designed to transition traditional waste management perspectives toward a more sustainable and inclusive circular system.
by Mitchell GImena
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Fifty-five students from Sta. Monica National High School (SMNHS) participated in a specialized Circular Economy Roadshow aimed at mobilizing the youth in the fight against plastic pollution. The initiative was spearheaded by Project Zacchaeus (PZC) through its Eco-Kolek program, in a high-level collaboration with Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership.
The roadshow serves as a critical educational pillar of the Eco-Kolek model, designed to transition traditional waste management perspectives toward a more sustainable and inclusive circular system.
Strategic International Partnership
The involvement of PEMSEA and the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership highlights the regional and international significance of the waste recovery efforts currently being piloted in Puerto Princesa. These partnerships provide the technical framework necessary to align local youth activities with global standards for marine protection and sustainable resource management.
During the session, students were oriented on the mechanics of the circular economy, focusing on how plastic waste—when properly recovered and managed—can be transformed from an environmental hazard into a community resource.
Institutionalizing Youth Stewardship
The roadshow challenged the 55 participants to act as "Green Ambassadors" within their respective households and school campuses. By integrating these concepts into the local high school curriculum, PZC and its partners aim to create a consistent supply of advocacy and action that supports the work of the Eco Warriors on the ground.
"Engaging the youth at Sta. Monica National High School is essential to ensuring that the shift toward a green economy is intergenerational," PZC officials noted. "These students are the future decision-makers who will sustain the progress we are making in plastic recovery and environmental resilience."
The successful engagement at Sta. Monica NHS reinforces PZC’s commitment to building a multi-sectoral alliance that includes the youth, local government, and international environmental organizations.
