COMMUNITY-LED ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES THRIVE IN BARANGAY MANDARAGAT, PUERTO PRINCESA

Barangay Mandaragat, a coastal barangay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan is now maintaining its reputation as a community of environmentally responsible citizens doing community-driven initiatives such as coastline cleanups and waste management. Aside from championing waste management efforts for 10 years now, they have again started to mobilize the barangay residents since January 2024 in doing weekly coastal cleanups.

Barangay officials lead in the coastal cleanup efforts to show that they too are committed to protecting the environment. They have been implementing creative methods in waste handling. This includes establishing 13 vegetable gardens to help biodegradable wastes be recycled with the help of what they call a “bio-man,” the one who collects and transports waste directly to the gulayan and uses it as fertilizer for the vegetable crops.

With this program, they were able to collect solid waste that includes residual wastes such as plastic packaging sachets, thin films, and grocery bags they kept for waste collection since there are no available waste bins in their streets and alleyways. This also helps to discourage residents from loitering around as well as to lower the amount of waste they bring into the city’s sanitary landfill. This grassroots effort not only tackles immediate environmental concerns but also fosters a sense of collective responsibility and pride in safeguarding their surroundings by including barangay officials, tanod, purok officials, and beneficiaries of 4Ps. Such initiative epitomizes the power of local action in combating the global challenge of declining coastal environment. Barangay Mandaragat sets a commendable example that one small step can lead to a profound impact.