31/08/2025
𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗖𝗬 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗗.𝗨.𝗚.𝗢.𝗡.𝗚.
ALABEL, Sarangani Province (August 31, 2025) - Prince Nico U. Geolaga, a BS Environmental Planning student from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University and Project Manager of Sustainability Advocates for Climate Change Action, returned from his AJYELN 2.0 Fellowship in Jakarta and paid a courtesy call on Mayor Lilibeth “Ybing” J. Salarda, MPA, on August 29, 2025.
Geolaga, a resident of Barangay Bagacay and son of a former barangay official and a public school teacher, represented the Philippines at the ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders Network (AJYELN), where he attended sessions at the ASEAN Secretariat and the Mission of Japan.
Following the fellowship, Geolaga now leads Project D.U.G.O.N.G. (Developing Urgent Guidance for Ocean Navigating Generations)—a long-term initiative funded by the ASEAN-Japan Centre to address marine plastic pollution, promote the ridge-to-reef approach, and develop young environmental leaders in the Buayan-Malungon River Basin and Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape.
The project launched on August 16 with volunteer recruitment and opened applications for participants the next day. It includes a three-week online mentorship program and will culminate in a two-day, one-night in-person training and project pitching event this September.
Joining Geolaga is Jick L. Acupan, Team Leader of the Junior Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineering from Malungon. Together, they aim to equip youth advocates with leadership and problem-solving skills to combat ocean plastic pollution, a critical issue as the Philippines ranks third globally, contributing about 350,000 tons of plastic waste to the ocean annually. (ALABEL INFORMATION OFFICE)
