SURIGAO CITY (April 29) — In Siargao, Earth Day wasn’t just symbolic—it was hands-on.
In Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, residents, officials, and local groups came together to track where their waste goes—and how to stop it from piling up in the first place.
Led by the Department of Science and Technology–Caraga, with support from Upgrade Innolab Inc., the two-day workshop turned planning into action: mapping resource flows, identifying waste hotspots, and spotting opportunities to reuse and recycle materials locally.
The goal is simple but ambitious—build a “circular” system where waste becomes a resource, not a problem.
“This is about enabling communities to create solutions using science and innovation,” said Noel M. Ajoc, linking the effort to the national push for greener growth under Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..
For Mayor Alfredo M. Coro II, the direction is clear: “close the loop”—cut waste, maximize resources, and make sustainability a community habit.
Technical sessions led by Richard R. Day introduced practical tools to help participants design real-world solutions, backed by support from the EU’s Green Economy Partnership Program.
For locals like Leonida Jarin, the impact was immediate. The sessions, she said, helped clarify how groups on the ground can work together to improve waste systems and bridge gaps.
The result: a developing ecosystem map that could guide future projects—from better waste management to green livelihoods.
In Siargao, the message is gaining ground—real environmental change starts not just with policy, but with communities rolling up their sleeves and redesigning how they live, use, and reuse.
