June, 18 2026

During the trip, the board members joined the Circular Operations for a Plastic-free Environment (COPE) culminating event on May 29 at Mallberry Suites CDO, where WWF-Philippines Chair Atty. Charlie Yu was a featured speaker. 

“Through the COPE Project, we have seen how local governments, communities, and partners can begin to close loops: by strengthening segregation at source, improving collection and recovery systems, supporting behavioral change, and exploring innovative models that reduce leakage into nature,” said Yu. 

The project aims to address the growing issues and negative impacts of plastic pollution by strengthening circular waste management systems and fostering inclusive community participation. 

The board and the management committee visited the Pagatpat Community Agriculture Farmers' Cooperative (PACAFACO), a community that plays a vital role in augmenting CDO’s waste management systems by collecting, processing, and recycling waste across several barangays. 

Beyond the project visit, the group met with the head of Sites and Properties Management Section of the City Museum of Cagayan de Oro and Heritage Studies Center, Jesus Christopher Salon, over a special lunch featuring local dishes that celebrated the region's unique food culture. 

They also visited a flower farm that uses a special microbe mix for fertilizers, the Rizome bamboo lumber processing plant, and an agarwood plantation that showcases Mindanao’s vast potential for high-value, nature-positive development.  

A central part of the visit was the meeting with the WWF Mindanao-based team to discuss opportunities for the emerging Mindanao program.