Project Zacchaeus proudly announces the recognition of its founder, John Vincent Q. Gastanes, as one of Tatler Asia’s Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow, becoming the first-ever Palaweño to be included in this prestigious regional list.
Tatler Asia’s Gen.T List celebrates young leaders across Asia whose bold projects and ventures are creating meaningful, lasting impact in their communities. For Gastanes, the honor is not a personal milestone—but a testament to a decade-long mission to uplift marginalized farmers, women, and informal waste workers through innovation rooted in empathy and service.
At the heart of that mission is Project Zacchaeus (PZC), a social enterprise he founded to build equitable platforms for economic empowerment. Through PZC, Gastanes has led the development of three core initiatives:
Farm Konekt, a farmer clustering and supply chain platform connecting over 3,000 smallholder farmers to markets, financing, and training.
Juana Fresh, a women-led livelihood initiative that provides dignified jobs and sustainable food systems.
Eco Kolek, an agri-waste and circular economy initiative designed to improve the lives of informal waste pickers while promoting environmental stewardship.
Gastanes, a proud Palaweño, has long envisioned a future where people at the margins are no longer seen as recipients of aid—but as architects of sustainable economies. His leadership has brought national and regional attention to community-driven innovation, with PZC’s work now integrated into development dialogues across the BIMP-EAGA subregion.
In an interview, Gastanes shared:
“We build not because we want to be recognized, but because our people deserve better systems—systems that include them, empower them, and restore their dignity.”
He also reflected on the role of young leaders in shaping local and global futures.
“The greatest honor is not in the title—but in using that title to create space for others to rise. This is for every farmer, mother, and youth leader who believed that change starts in our own backyard.”
Project Zacchaeus joins the entire province of Palawan in celebrating this recognition—not only for John, but for every community that made this journey possible.
We believe that this is only the beginning of a wider movement—one where leadership is measured not by how far one rises, but by how many are lifted along the way.
Congratulations, John. You lead us not just with vision, but with heart.
Puerto Princesa City, June 4, 2025 — A powerful wave of collaboration swept through Puerto Princesa as Project Zacchaeus (PZC) and its Eco Kolek initiative joined forces with key partners to tackle marine plastic pollution—one community at a time. Marking a significant step forward in local marine conservation efforts, the celebration of World Ocean Day was filled with impactful activities, partnerships, and community engagement.
The day began with a strategy session at the City ENRO office, joined by representatives from PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia), the Korean Embassy, Palawan State University’s Beach Monitoring Team, and other partners. Discussions centered on data-driven approaches to marine plastic reduction and innovative community-based behavior change solutions.
This was followed by a courtesy visit to Mayor Lucilo Bayron, where the Marine Plastic ODA Project was formally presented. The Mayor’s expressed support provided a strong push for grassroots-led, sustainable innovation.
Participants then toured critical waste management sites, including the City’s sanitary landfill, a local junkshop, and the Circular Economy Learning Hub—an upcycled structure built through collaboration with USAID Clean Cities Blue Ocean, City ENRO, and Barangay Sicsican. Here, empowered Eco Warriors showcased how waste can be transformed into opportunity and livelihood.
This celebration underscored a vital message: when local communities, government leaders, and international partners align with a shared vision, lasting change becomes possible.
Together, we're turning the tide for plastic-free oceans.
Last February, we had the privilege of joining the Senior Officials and Project Managers (SPM) Meeting of BIMP-EAGA in Cagayan de Oro—an important platform where regional cooperation meets grassroots innovation.
Representing Farm Konekt, we reaffirmed our commitment to community-centered agri-digital transformation. At the core of our message was a simple truth: connectivity begins with empowered communities.
Through our clustering services, we continue to onboard farmers and fisherfolks across the region—helping them access training, financing, and market opportunities through digital integration and cooperative-led organization.
🚜 What’s Next?
We're advancing toward the development of BIMP-EAGA Agri-Tech Hubs—localized centers designed to:
Accelerate digital adoption in agriculture
Strengthen cooperative value chains
Foster cross-border trade rooted in inclusion and sustainability
We extend our gratitude to our partners and co-delegates for the trust and collaboration. The work continues—and so does the movement. 🌱
Every smallholder we reach brings us closer to a more resilient, connected ASEAN.