Zonta Club of Laguna, JCI Damas de San Pedro Convert Election Tarpaulins into School Chairs for Typhoon Survivors

Environmental initiative supports education and recovery in Bicol through upcycling campaign materials

San Pedro City, Laguna – In a joint effort to promote sustainability and support disaster-stricken communities, the Zonta Club of Laguna and JCI Damas de San Pedro have teamed up to turn discarded campaign tarpaulins from the 2025 elections into functional school chairs for students in typhoon-affected areas of the Bicol Region.

The initiative, carried out in partnership with The Plastic Flamingo (Plaf) under Project Flamingo, contributes to the production of 5,000 recycled chairs for public schools recovering from the devastation left by Typhoon Kristine.

“We believe that waste only becomes waste when we fail to see its potential,” said Jam Santos, President of JCI Damas de San Pedro and a flight stewardess for Philippine Airlines. “By transforming used tarpaulins into something meaningful, we’re helping young learners reclaim their education and their future.”

Leaders from both organizations visited the Plaf facility and one of the recipient communities in Bicol, where students continue to study with improvised furniture. The experience offered a firsthand look at the ongoing challenges these schools face and reinforced the value of grassroots-driven recovery efforts.

“This is what true leadership looks like—action rooted in compassion, sustainability, and service,” said Congresswoman Ann Matibag, President of Zonta Club of Laguna and Immediate Past President of JCI Damas de San Pedro. “From campaign season to climate action, we’re showing that new beginnings can rise from old materials.”

As climate change continues to impact vulnerable communities across the Philippines, this project stands as a compelling example of how civic groups can lead by example—championing environmental stewardship, education, and resilience all at once.

With this initiative, the women leaders of Zonta and JCI Damas are turning yesterday’s campaign waste into tomorrow’s classroom tools—proof that even the remnants of the past can help build a more sustainable and hopeful future.

From waste to purpose—this is transformation through action.