Youth group cleans Labuan Bajo alternative road in Wae Mata

Labuan Bajo — The Wae Mata Youth Organization (Organisasi Pemuda Wae Mata, OPW) carried out a community cleanup on Sunday, 13 September 2026, along the alternative route connecting Gang Pengadilan and Wae Mata in Gorontalo village, Komodo district, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, according to local news reports.

The action followed complaints from residents and road users about accumulated rubbish, unpleasant odours and overgrown vegetation narrowing parts of the route. OPW members collected scattered waste, cleared wild grass and pruned trees that were beginning to obstruct the road.

OPW chairman Usman Kardiyanato said the initiative came from local young people who were concerned about the deteriorating condition of the route. He warned that leaving the area dirty could damage the image of Gorontalo village and the wider Labuan Bajo area as a tourism destination, and urged residents to help maintain cleanliness along the road.

According to the reports, the Gang Pengadilan–Wae Mata route functions as an alternative road used by motorcyclists and pedestrians, including visitors heading to and from residential areas. OPW described the cleanup as a first step to foster shared awareness of environmental hygiene in a district that increasingly depends on tourism.

Warnings against dumping

During the cleanup, OPW volunteers also placed a written warning on a rubbish container at the site to discourage people from dumping waste there. The sign, urging road users not to throw rubbish at the location, was intended as a visual reminder for residents who pass through the route.

Imran, a road user quoted in local coverage, welcomed the initiative and said the alternative route should receive attention even though it is not a main road. He thanked OPW members for their efforts and said improved cleanliness helped the view for people using the shortcut.

Part of broader cleanliness efforts

Local and national authorities have highlighted waste management and cleanliness as ongoing challenges in and around Labuan Bajo, a designated priority tourism destination. Officials and community groups have encouraged residents to avoid littering and to support regular cleanups to protect both public health and the area’s reputation with travellers.

Community-based actions such as OPW’s cleanup reflect calls for greater public participation in maintaining roads, neighbourhoods and coastal zones near tourist routes. Youth groups and civil society organisations have increasingly been involved in organising volunteer cleanups and promoting environmental education in Labuan Bajo and West Manggarai.

At a glance

• Date of cleanup: Sunday, 13 September 2026
• Route: Gang Pengadilan–Wae Mata alternative road
• Location: Gorontalo village, Komodo district, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara
• Organizer: Wae Mata Youth Organization (OPW)
• Work carried out: Waste collection, grass clearing and tree pruning along the route

Sources

• Bajo Update
• Victory News Manggarai Barat
• Liputan6 Regional
• Pikiran Rakyat Flores / Oke Flores