Press Release
January 12, 2016

Hundreds help clean up Baseco community

Together with Sen. Cynthia Villar, around 300 persons joined the clean-up activity at Gasangan, Barangay 649, BASECO in Manila.

"I will never get tired of organizing and participating in tree-planting and coastal clean-ups as long as there are volunteers like our participants here today who stay committed to the cause of environment protection," Villar said.

The Nacionalista Party senator regularly holds tree-planting activities and clean-ups at Las Pinas Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA), one of the areas in the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance.

The cleanup with the theme "Barangay and School Accountable for a Sustainable and Exceedingly Clean and Orderly Environment" was also attended by Department of Education (DepEd) Sec. Armin Luistro and students and teachers from Pres. Corazon C. Aquino High School, Herminigildo J. Atienza Elementary School, and Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Elementary School.

Participating organizations also include Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance), Division of City Schools-DepEd, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 4A, as well as residents of Bgy. 649.

The clean-up activity coincided with the celebration of January as Zero Waste Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 760.

"I share the belief that we should shift from the "throw-away" culture to the recycling and reusing mindset in order to minimize waste in the environment," Villar said.

She related that in Las Pinas, they were able to convert wastes that flood the Zapote River such as coconut husks, waterlilies, kitchen and garden wastes and waste plastics into raw materials for livelihood enterprises of 500 families in the city. Over the years, the project was replicated in over 700 cities and municipalities all over the country.

Villar's project of recycling plastic wastes into school chairs and kitchen wastes into organic fertilizers also helped the city save on garbage hauling expenses.

Before the clean-up, DENR gave an orientation on the proper conduct of clean-up.

In a brief message, Villar thanked the Baseco residents for actively participating in the clean-up efforts, saying this is a manifestation of the willingness of residents to rehabilitate Manila Bay.

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