Aussies, Taguig City help Clean Up the World

MANILA, Philippines - Australians, Taguig City residents and other volunteers joined hands yesterday in an activity to mark Clean Up the World.

More than 200 participants, including embassy staff led by Australian Ambassador Rod Smith, Taguig City residents led by Mayor Lani Cayetano and volunteers from Clean Up the Philippines and Australian companies participated in cleaning up Hagonoy Creek and surrounding areas in Barangay Hagonoy, Lower Bicutan, one of the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.

“We think it’s important to support Filipinos who take action in their local communities to protect and preserve their environment to help reduce vulnerability to natural disasters,” Ambassador Smith said. “This year’s volunteers were among the millions around the world who did their share in cleaning up, fixing up and conserving their local neighborhoods.”

The Sydney-based Clean Up the World global environment campaign is the brainchild of the famous Australian yachtsman Ian Kiernan, AO. Held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program, Clean Up the World has successfully mobilized millions of volunteers around the world to undertake a range of environmental activities since its launch in 1993.

Under the Clean Up the World banner, the embassy has undertaken various clean up activities held at UP Los Baños in Laguna, Bay Walk in Manila, and Pagasa Park in Mandaluyong City and Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

The initiative also supports Australia’s commitment to build communities in Metro Manila that are resilient to natural disasters following the destruction caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” in 2009.

Australia was one of the first countries that responded to the Ondoy relief effort, providing A$11 million in emergency assistance.

“Ondoy has prompted the Australian government to expand its assistance to ensure the country is better prepared to manage and respond to future disasters. Apart from the resources and technology that we have provided, we also want to encourage communities to play a more active role towards the protection and preservation of their environment,” Smith said.

Since 2006, Australia has provided A$20 million to strengthen disaster risk management practices and address climate change in the Philippines.

Recently, the Australian government funded a state-of-the-art digital imagery set that will enhance the Philippine government’s approach to assessing disaster risk and reduce vulnerability to future natural disasters of millions of Filipinos living in Metro Manila.