Eco Kolek, PEMSEA mobilize inter-agency coastal clean-up in Puerto Princesa for World Ocean Day

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — To mitigate marine plastic pollution and advance the local circular economy, Project Zacchaeus (PZC), through its Eco Kolek program, spearheaded a multi-sectoral coastal clean-up operation at Hartman Beach, Barangay San Miguel on June 6 in observance of World Ocean Day.

The large-scale environmental initiative was executed in strategic partnership with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), independent power producer Delta P Inc., and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO).

Unprecedented inter-agency mobilization

Demonstrating strong institutional buy-in for marine conservation, the operation convened a massive deployment of 190 participants from a diverse coalition of government, military, and civic agencies. The mobilization included participants from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the City Tourism Office of Puerto Princesa.

National government agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), operated alongside the San Miguel Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU). Serving as the host barangay, the San Miguel BLGU provided crucial on-the-ground support and logistical coordination to accommodate the massive multi-sectoral deployment. The academic sector was also heavily represented by delegations from Palawan State University (PSU), Western Philippines University (WPU), and the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O).

Integrating behavioral change with environmental action

The primary objective of the mobilization extended beyond the physical removal of coastal debris to deliver direct, long-term benefits to the local community. For the residents of Purok Bagong Silang and the wider Barangay San Miguel, restoring the ecological health of Hartman Beach reduces public health hazards, mitigates coastal degradation, and protects local livelihoods dependent on a thriving marine ecosystem.

To translate this immediate action into sustained Social and Behavioral Change (SBC), the event utilized a hands-on mentorship approach. Rather than simply hauling waste away, professionalized "Eco Warriors" worked side-by-side with community members and youth delegates throughout the five-hour operation. By leading the systematic collection and segregation of morethan 400 kilograms of marine litter, the Eco Warriors modeled responsible waste handling in real-time.

The recovered coastal waste consisted primarily of plastic bottles, food wrappers, aluminum cans, and other marine debris. This interactive, collaborative process demonstrates the tangible value of proper segregation to the community—showing them exactly how to classify household and coastal waste so it can be effectively diverted from the landfill and reintegrated into Puerto Princesa’s evolving circular economy infrastructure.

Strengthening international and local mandates

The successful execution of the Hartman Beach clean-up underscores Eco Kolek’s capacity to consolidate resources across private, public, and international sectors. By aligning local grassroots action with the global sustainability frameworks promoted by PEMSEA, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership implemented by the United National Development Programme, and OCEAN Grants Programme, the initiative reinforces Palawan's commitment to protecting its critical marine ecosystems.

Project organizers noted that the unified participation of law enforcement, local governance, and community volunteers sets a replicable benchmark for collaborative environmental stewardship, establishing a sustainable blueprint for future coastal defense operations in the province.

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