LABUAN BAJO, 28 July 2026 – In order to strengthen the movement to keep the environment clean in anticipation of the Golo Koe Maria Asumta Nusantara 2026 Festival, the Environmental Section of the Festival Committee held a talk show and watch together educational activities on disposing of waste correctly. This activity took place on Monday, July 27 2026, at the Mary Mother of All Nations Church, Wae Kesambi.
The screening was attended by hundreds of children and teenagers from the parish. Through audio-visual media, participants were encouraged to understand the impact of environmental damage and the importance of maintaining cleanliness as a form of love for “Mother Earth.” The event aimed to mobilize the younger generation to become agents of change in reducing waste volume in Labuan Bajo.
Next, a talk show titled “Labuan Bajo Without Waste: It’s Time to Start with Small Habits” was held. This talk show aimed to provide inspiration and education to the community about the importance of proper waste management to preserve the integrity of creation.
Paradigm Shift: Subtract from the Source
Vinsensius Gande, Head of the West Manggarai Regency Environmental Agency, who served as a resource person, emphasized that the government is currently shifting its waste management paradigm. Previously, the “collect-transport-dispose” approach has shifted its focus to waste reduction at the source (upstream).
“Waste production in Labuan Bajo currently reaches 26 to 27 tons per day,” said Vinsen Gande.
He explained that through Regent Regulation (Perbup) No. 16 of 2025, the government is working hard to limit the use of single-use plastics. Vinsen also encouraged the public to start sorting waste at home by providing containers based on type (organic, inorganic, and residual).
The Strategic Role of Young People
Representing the younger generation, Lani from the Lino Tana Dite community, supported by Pangan Bernas, shared her real-life experience in waste management. She revealed that young people in Labuan Bajo have innovated by converting fruit peels and fish scraps into amino acids and liquid organic fertilizer with economic value.
“Big changes start with small steps. We must love the environment as much as we love ourselves to keep the earth clean,” Lani emphasized.
He urged his young colleagues to start bringing their own shopping bags and drinking bottles (tumblers) to reduce plastic waste.
Real Action at the Golo Koe Festival
The Maria Assumpta Nusantara Golo Koe 2026 Festival, themed “Communal Pilgrimage in Synergistic Fellowship to Care for the Integrity of Creation,” will be a momentum for the implementation of strict environmental regulations. During the festival, all MSMEs are required to manage their own waste and are prohibited from providing plastic bags to visitors.
In addition, the committee also held a Cleanest Church Region Competition in three parishes in the Labuan Bajo area, which included cleanliness assessments and video documentation of waste sorting. This activity was fully supported by the Environmental Agency and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) concerned with the Labuan Bajo ecosystem.
Through this activity, it is hoped that collective public awareness will increase, so that waste is no longer seen as a problem, but rather as a “blessing” which, if managed properly, can provide economic and sustainable benefits for “Mother Earth”.
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About the Golo Koe Festival: The Golo Koe Maria Asumta Nusantara Festival is an annual event that combines the spirit of religion, culture, and the creative economy, which this year places great attention on ecological issues and environmental preservation in Labuan Bajo.
Contact Person: Heribertus Ratu (0813984619570),
Publication and Promotion Section, Golo Koe Festival 2026 Committee.
Website: festivalgolokoe.com
