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PTTEP Indonesia Supports Golo Koe Festival as a Green Event through Sustainable Waste Management

21 Aug 2026

Labuan Bajo – Golo Koe Maria Assumpta Nusantara Festival 2026 officially concluded after taking place from 10 – 16 August 2026, in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. Recognized as one of the Top 10 Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026 events, the festival attracted more than 45,000 visitors and tourists from various regions across Indonesia and abroad. Amid the high level of enthusiasm, Positif Bajo Program, with support from PTTEP Indonesia, successfully collected more than one ton of waste, consisting of organic, inorganic, and residual waste, as part of efforts to establish Golo Koe Festival as a clean and sustainable Green Event.

The Head of the West Manggarai Regency Environmental Agency, Vinsen Gande, expressed his appreciation for the collaborative waste management efforts during the festival, including the cooperation between Positif Bajo and the West Manggarai Regency Environmental Agency in waste collection. According to him, the initiative demonstrated that waste management is not only important for maintaining cleanliness, but can also create economic value and serve as a means of educating the community. This was reflected in the enthusiasm of children participating in activities at the Education Booth, including a program that allowed them to exchange plastic bottles for various rewards such as bags, clothing, cooking oil, and milk. “I am proud and grateful to the organizers who have taken a full role in waste management. Through this activity, children can see that waste has value and can be utilized, and can even generate income. The children were actually the most enthusiastic about participating in this activity. This is a very valuable form of education for the community,” he said.

He also noted that this year's waste management approach represented a step forward, as waste management was implemented from the beginning of the festival rather than only after the event had ended. “We hope that this collaboration will not stop with the festival, but can continue and reach the wider community, particularly households. We hope that the children who received this education today will bring the knowledge home and share it with their families,” he added.

As the Waste Management Leader, Positif Bajo coordinated waste management efforts with the festival committee, local government, the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, and the community. In addition to waste collection and sorting, Positif Bajo also set up an Education Booth where visitors could learn about waste segregation, the circular economy, and environmental management practices through a variety of interactive activities. The plastic bottle exchange program was one of the activities that attracted significant participation, while also introducing the concept that properly sorted waste can have value and provide benefits.

The spirit of environmental stewardship was also fostered through Golo Koe Eco Action 2026 Environmental Cleanliness Competition. Matheus Patut, a representative of Team Area 5A of Roh Kudus Parish, which won first place, said that the competition further encouraged his group to involve more community members in environmental conservation. “Cleanliness is the responsibility of every citizen and must begin with the smallest environment, which is our own home. By winning this competition, we feel that we have a responsibility to become pioneers and environmental champions in our community and encourage others to do the same,” he said.

The collaboration between PTTEP Indonesia and Inovasi Gerakan Masyarakat, together with Golo Koe Festival Committee, the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, the West Manggarai Regency Government, the West Manggarai Regency Environmental Agency, and various other stakeholders, demonstrates that environmental management can become an integral part of large-scale cultural events. The collection of more than one ton of waste during the festival serves as an important momentum to expand waste management practices from public spaces to households, while further strengthening the shared commitment to promoting more environmentally responsible tourism in Labuan Bajo.