Project Zacchaeus

We are indeed grateful for this partnership! Thank you EU-PH Green Economy Partnership and the City Government of Puerto Princesa.

#𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧 || 𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐆 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐂 𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐌. 𝐃𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍, 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐄𝐔-𝐏𝐇 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓
𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐂𝐈𝐎 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚

Dumating sa Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa si DILG Assistant Secretary for International Relations Lilian M. De Leon noong ika-13 ng Abril 2026 upang bisitahin ang implementasyon ng EU-PH Green Economy Partnership Project. Ang nasabing proyekto ay pinagtutulungan ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa at Eco-Kolek, na pinopondohan ng European Union.

Kabilang sa mga sumama sa pagbisita sina City DILG Director Myla Panganiban at G. Edlin Lumanog ng United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Nagtungo ang grupo sa Circular Economy Learning Hub na matatagpuan sa Barangay Sicsican, kung saan sila ay mainit na sinalubong ng mga kawani ng proyekto sa pangunguna ni Bb. Shellemai Roa, Project Director ng Eco Kolek, G. Dennis Barcelona at ng mga eco-warriors.

Sa isinagawang presentasyon, ipinaliwanag ng Eco-Kolek management ang kabuuang operasyon ng proyekto, kabilang ang pangongolekta, pagsasagawa ng waste segregation, at pagbebenta ng mga recyclable materials gaya ng plastik, bote, at metal sa mga junk shop. Ibinahagi rin kung paano kumikita ang 19 na eco-warriors mula sa mga nakolektang recyclable materials, gayundin ang positibong epekto ng proyekto sa kanilang kabuhayan at personal na pag-unlad. Ayon sa kanila, ang mga kaalaman at pagsasanay na kanilang natamo mula sa proyekto ay nakatulong upang mapataas ang kanilang tiwala sa sarili.

Sa kanyang mensahe, pinuri ni ASEC De Leon ang dedikasyon ng mga eco-warriors. Aniya, “𝐾𝑎𝑦𝑜 𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑘𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑡𝑎 𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑦𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑚𝑎𝑚𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑝𝑤𝑎, 𝑠𝑎 𝑖𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑜𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑑, 𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑎. 𝑁𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎 𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑎𝑛. 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑘𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑚𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑎𝑛.”

Tatlong purok sa Barangay Sicsican ang nagsisilbing pilot sites ng Eco-Kolek Project kung saan aktibong ipinatutupad ang waste segregation. Tinatayang 300 sambahayan ang saklaw ng proyekto, na pinaglilingkuran ng tatlong grupo ng eco-warriors. Tatlong beses kada linggo ang iskedyul ng pangongolekta ng recyclable materials, na maayos na isinasakay sa mga top-down tricycles. Samantala, ang mga non-recyclable waste ay kinokolekta naman ng Solid Waste Management Truck ng lungsod.

Pansamantalang iniimbak ang mga nakolektang materyales sa Circular Economy Learning Hub habang inihahanda ang mas malawak na pasilidad sa Barangay Irawan, na ipinagkaloob din ng pamahalaang lungsod. Kabilang dito ang 500 metrong kwadradong lote na kasalukuyang ginagamit bilang CE Learning Hub sa Barangay Sicsican.

Bilang bahagi ng kanyang pagbisita, nakipagpulong din si ASEC De Leon sa mga opisyal ng barangay at mga kasapi ng komite sa kapaligiran. Sa hapon, nagtungo rin siya sa City Hall upang magsagawa ng courtesy call kay Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron.

VOICES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY #4
Ma. Iris Darline Cacal: Community Engagement Officer

Eco Kolek is proud to introduce Iris Darline Cacal, our new Community Engagement Officer. Iris brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for community work, combined with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Palawan State University, where she also passed the Social Worker Licensure Exam. With her background in social work and her experience in community immersion, Iris is poised to make a significant impact in Eco Kolek’s mission to promote sustainable waste management practices across Puerto Princesa and beyond.

"Engaging the public is about creating meaningful connections that inspire individuals to change their waste habits for the better. I am committed to making environmental education accessible and exciting so that everyone feels empowered to be part of the solution," Iris explains.

To read more, clickl here: https://ecokolek.com/iris-darline-cacal



EU-PH Green Economy Partnership European Union in the Philippines Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme - OCEAN UNDP Philippines United Nations Development Programme - UNDP City ENRO Puerto Princesa Eco Kolek Darline Cacal

FK Leads Capacity-Building Workshop for Rural Agricultural Workers in Palawan

In a strong push toward strengthening grassroots agricultural systems, FK, through its leaders John Vincent Gastanes and She Roa, facilitated a comprehensive three-day workshop for agricultural rural workers in Palawan. The activity was organized by the Provincial Government of Palawan in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

The workshop brought together agricultural extension workers and community leaders across the province, equipping them with practical tools and strategies to enhance community organizing, resource mobilization, and sustainable agricultural development.

Building Stronger Communities Through Organizing

On the first day, John Vincent Gastanes led sessions on the foundations of community organizing, emphasizing its role in transforming agricultural communities. Participants explored the theories, principles, and history of organizing, as well as real-life case studies demonstrating successful models in rural and agricultural settings.

Gastanes highlighted that effective organizing goes beyond structure—it requires understanding people, building trust, and aligning community goals toward collective progress.

Equipping Leaders with Practical Tools

The second day focused on community mapping, planning, and leadership development, facilitated by She Roa. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises such as SWOT and PESTEL analysis, identifying key resources, challenges, and opportunities within their respective communities.

Through the “3Ps of Mapping—Places, People, and Power,” attendees were guided in analyzing their local environments and developing actionable strategies. The sessions also emphasized crafting shared visions, setting achievable goals, and building leadership capacities among farmers and community members.

Mobilizing Resources and Strengthening Partnerships

In the afternoon sessions, Roa introduced resource mobilization strategies, including identifying funding sources, developing proposals, and building partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. Participants learned how to transform ideas into sustainable projects through effective collaboration and strategic planning.

From Learning to Action

The final day of the workshop centered on financial management, advocacy, and monitoring systems, with sessions designed to ensure the sustainability of community initiatives. Participants were guided in budgeting, transparent fund management, and policy engagement to support agricultural development.

A culminating group activity required participants to develop and present community-based action plans, applying the knowledge gained throughout the training to real-world agricultural challenges in Palawan.

Empowering the Frontliners of Agriculture

The workshop reinforced the critical role of agricultural extension workers as frontliners in rural development. By equipping them with both technical knowledge and community leadership skills, the initiative aims to create ripple effects—empowering farmers, strengthening cooperatives, and improving access to resources and markets.

For FK, the activity reflects its ongoing mission of building inclusive, community-driven agricultural ecosystems—where innovation meets grassroots leadership, and where no farmer is left behind.