AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY HELPS CLEAN UP MANDALUYONG CITY
Australian Embassy staff led by
Deputy Head of Mission Andrew Byrne (centre)
with volunteers from the City Government of
Mandaluyong led by Barangay Captain
Rodolfo Posadas (picture right)
The Australian Embassy participated in a clean-up activity in Mandaluyong City to kick off this year’s Clean Up the World (CUW) Weekend (17-19 September) in the Philippines.
Embassy staff led by Deputy Head of Mission Andrew Byrne, together with officials from the City Government of Mandaluyong led by Mayor Benjamin Abalos, Jr and volunteers from Clean Up the Philippines, conducted a mobile waste market and street clean-up in Barangay Addition Hills.
“The waste market and street clean-up supports this year’s CUW theme, ‘Caring for Communities’” Mr Byrne said. “We encourage Filipinos to join the estimated 35 million people in 120 countries who will be cleaning up, fixing up and conserving their local neighbourhoods during Clean Up the World Weekend.”
The volunteers visited households to collect recyclable materials in order to raise awareness about garbage segregation and recycling. They also conducted a street clean up in Block 37 of Barangay Addition Hills to prevent clogging of waterways that often results to flooding in the area.
“The activity also supports the city’s campaign against dengue as we clear households of bottles, cans and unused containers where dengue-carrying mosquitoes can lay their eggs,” Mayor Abalos said.
Clean Up the World is an initiative created by the famous Australian yachtsman Ian Kiernan AO. Held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, CUW has successfully mobilised millions of volunteers around the world to undertake a range of environmental activities since its launch in 1993.
Under the banner of Clean Up the World, the Embassy has undertaken various clean up activities held at UP Los Baños in Laguna, Bay Walk in Manila, and both Pagasa Park and Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City.
“I congratulate Clean Up the Philippines and Mandaluyong City officials for their continuing commitment to protect and preserve our environment,” Mr Byrne said.
He noted that Mandaluyong, being the Tiger City, was the first to pass an ordinance declaring every third week of September as Mandaluyong Environment Week in support of Clean Up the World Weekend. The City also was judged Rank 1 in quality of life by AIM and the World Bank.
In the Philippines, the Australian Government has partnered with various organisations towards the preservation of the country’s biodiversity hotspots. The Embassy’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) provided support for the establishment of artificial reef modules to help rehabilitate the marine ecosystems in Calapan City, Mindoro.
Other initiatives include Australia’s support to Conservation International for the preservation of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges and the rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay and the Rinconada Lakes System in the Bicol Region.