In late 2020, the US Government, through the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program (CCBO), awarded grants worth up to P42 million to five Philippine NGOs to help pilot solutions to stop the flow of plastic pollution into the waters within and surrounding the country, Manila Bay, including the Philippines Sulu and West Philippine Sea.
Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA), has been selected as one of the grant partners for the said program. The Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Philippines' first class of grantees, have developed sustainable approaches and innovative solutions to advance the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) and solid waste management (SWM) to create cleaner cities and seas. In many cities, communities have begun to take action as plastic pollution has become one of the top priorities for governmental and grassroots efforts.
USAID is working at the global level and in specific, rapidly urbanizing focal countries, including the Philippines, to target ocean plastics directly at their source, while empowering women champions and local communities on the pathways towards a circular economy. USAID’s global "Clean Cities, Blue Ocean" (CCBO) was launched in late 2019 as the agency’s flagship program to combat marine litter. One of seven focal countries, CCBO’s engagement in the Philippines comes at a pivotal time for progress on plastic pollution.
"At CORA, we believe that the pathways toward achieving clean cities and a blue ocean can help stop plastic pollution at the source, while empowering vulnerable women and marginalized communities in the process."
With increased, strategic and coordinated efforts among government, private sector, and local communities, the Philippines, neighboring nations, and the rest of the world, can achieve meaningful and sustainable impacts that also help empower the most vulnerable."
"At CORA, we believe that the pathways toward achieving clean cities and a blue ocean can help stop plastic pollution at the source, while empowering vulnerable women and marginalized communities in the process," shared Ms. Antoinette Taus, CORA Founder.