Updated: Apr 4, 2022
Project Zacchaeus in partnership with USAID Clean Cities Blue Ocean (CCBO), and its cooperating partners - the Barangay Bancao-Bancao LGU, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the City Government of Puerto Princesa joined hands for the groundbreaking ceremony of Project Eco Kolek’s consolidation area facility on March 24, 2022, at Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City.
The 1,000-square meter consolidation area will house machines and equipment to sort, clean, shred and compact collected plastics for further processing and turn them into new items with a partner upcycling company in Manila.
“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,” said John Vincent Gastanes, Founder of Project Zacchaeus during his welcome remarks.
The said facility will also house a training hub for the continuous learning of the Eco Warriors and further upscale their competence and knowledge in waste collection and segregation.
“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 get through following the management here in the beautiful City of Puerto Princesa,” said John Edgar, Environment Office Chief, USAID Philippines.
The event was followed by a short formal launching ceremony of the 60 Eco Warriors who will be at the forefront of all collection efforts to households and business establishments which will be made initially in pilot areas within identified communities, and soon in more expansive routes within Puerto Princesa City.
Other guests present during the event were 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 and Technology, and Health Officer, Melinda Donelly, Tetra Tech Director of Program Coordination, External Affairs, and Communications, and other CCBO Team Members, and Barangay Councilor JR John Garcia representing Barangay Captain Gayjun Dangan of Bancao-Bancao LGU.
Puerto Princesa City, March 28, 2022—On March 24, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program, donated eight waste collection vehicles to increase the capacity and efficiency of “Eco Warrior” waste collectors from Barangay Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
These vehicles, which include five bicycles, two motorcycles with sidecars, and one four-wheel multicab, were provided through the program’s grant to the Philippine organization Project Zacchaeus, which seeks to address ocean plastic pollution and the critical needs of those working in the informal waste and recycling sectors.
“USAID strongly believes that partnerships, community engagement, and customized solutions are important for the success of our development projects,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava. “We are pleased to turn over these vehicles to the Eco Warriors, who have emerged as local leaders in sustainability and waste management, as we work together in curbing ocean plastic pollution and building sustainable circular economies.”
The waste collection vehicles were received by USAID grantee Project Zacchaeus Marketing Cooperative (PZC) Founder John Gastanes and Eco Warriors President Lydia Casiano. The vehicles will expand the Eco Warriors’ previous collection capacity and provide enhanced waste services to an estimated 3,000 households in Puerto Princesa.
Full story here :
https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-provides-waste-collection-vehicles-to-improve-puerto-princesa-city-waste-management/
Updated: Apr 4, 2022
Project Zacchaeus (PZC) in partnership with USAID Clean Cities Blue Ocean (CCBO), forges stronger collaborative partnership with City Government of Puerto Princesa to boost the 3R practices (reducing, reusing, and recycling) and solid waste management (SWM) within the city.
PZC, through its Project Eco Kolek, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, together with his City Administration, and City Environment and Natural Resources Department (CENRO) on March 21, 2022, held at the Office of the Mayor, City Hall, Puerto Princesa City.
This MOU signing serves as the prelude to a meaningful and long-lasting partnership between PZC and the City Government – sharing together a common goal and resources to empower the informal waste collectors (IWCs) (or we call Eco Warriors) as impact leaders and grassroot partners in addressing solid waste management problems, especially plastic pollution in the city.
This value-created partnership wherein both parties received a maximum collaborative advantage will contribute towards achieving a cleaner and greener City in the Forest Puerto Princesa.