ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Eco Protect Management Corp. (EMPC) has officially launched its Lunes Malinis (MaLu) Project at Gueco Balibago Elementary School on February 21, 2025, aiming to promote environmental awareness and sustainability among students.
The initiative encourages young learners to collect single-use plastic sachets in exchange for essential school resources such as garbage bins and armchairs. By tackling plastic waste, the program not only reduces environmental pollution but also benefits schools in need of classroom furniture.
Following its initial launch at San Fernando Elementary School on February 7, Gueco Balibago Elementary became the second school in Pampanga to adopt the project. The event was attended by Pampanga 1st District Representative Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, Angeles City Councilor Edu Pamintuan, Barangay Balibago Chairman PG Ponce, Principal Marianne Pineda, and EMPC CEO Alainne Tan.
Approximately 1,000 students from Grades 1-3 participated in the program, which follows the “3Cs” approach—Collect, Clean, and Contribute. Under this initiative, every 18 kilos of plastic sachets collected will be exchanged for a trash bin or an armchair for the school. During the launch, Gueco Balibago Elementary School received its first set of donations.
Barangay Chairman PG Ponce praised the project’s dual impact, emphasizing its role in both environmental protection and addressing educational needs. He also announced plans to implement similar initiatives within Barangay Balibago, mobilizing the community to exchange plastics for school furniture.
Rep. Lazatin lauded the MaLu Project for instilling environmental consciousness among young students. He highlighted its educational value, teaching children about cleanliness, waste segregation, and the importance of recycling and upcycling plastics.
Principal Pineda expressed her excitement for the project, aligning it with Angeles City’s waste segregation efforts. She stressed the need for students to understand how discarded plastics can be repurposed into valuable resources, fostering a culture of sustainability.
CEO Alainne Tan announced that EMPC is set to donate 50 additional armchairs and garbage bins to various schools across Pampanga in the coming months, further strengthening the company’s commitment to sustainability and improving learning environments.