Zonta Club of Laguna, JCI Damas de San Pedro Turn Election Waste into School Chairs for Typhoon-Hit Bicol Schools

Plastic campaign tarpaulins recycled through Project Flamingo to support disaster recovery and sustainability efforts

San Pedro City, Laguna — May 2025 — Demonstrating a powerful commitment to environmental sustainability and community recovery, the Zonta Club of Laguna and JCI Damas de San Pedro have partnered to repurpose used election campaign tarpaulins into school chairs for students in typhoon-affected areas in the Bicol Region.

In collaboration with eco-startup The Plastic Flamingo (Plaf), the two civic organizations collected and donated tarpaulins from the 2025 elections, contributing to the production of 5,000 recycled school chairs for public schools that were severely damaged by Typhoon Kristine.

“This initiative is a reminder that waste isn’t waste until we waste it,” said Jam Santos, a Philippine Airlines flight stewardess and President of JCI Damas de San Pedro. “Rather than letting these materials pollute landfills, we chose to give them a second life—and in doing so, help children who are rebuilding their lives through education.”

Club representatives recently visited a warehouse and one of the beneficiary communities in the Bicol Region, where many students continue to study using makeshift chairs and tables. The visit revealed both the extent of the devastation and the resilience of young learners, inspiring further commitment to the cause.

“This project shows that leadership goes beyond policy and speeches—it’s about taking concrete action,” said Congresswoman Ann Matibag, Immediate Past President of JCI Damas de San Pedro and current President of Zonta Club of Laguna. “From political campaigns to environmental campaigns, we’re proving that every end can be a new beginning.”

Amid the growing threats of climate change, this initiative showcases how grassroots collaboration can promote environmental justice, access to education, and disaster resilience in a single effort. It also highlights the critical role that civic groups and women leaders play in advancing sustainability and community welfare.

Through this meaningful transformation of campaign waste, the Zonta Club of Laguna and JCI Damas de San Pedro affirm that small actions, when driven by purpose and unity, can have a lasting impact.

From trash to transformation, this is leadership in action.