(MANILA, Philippines) — A collaboration towards a thriving Manila Bay.
From March 1 to 5, 2023, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), South Korean organization Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), and Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA) will further raise awareness towards recyclables, solid waste management the Philippines, and the role that women play in a circular economy in “From Waste to Worth: Women Circular Champions Sustainability Exhibit” located in SM City BF Parañaque.
The exhibit features the #MyOSEANMission campaign against marine plastic pollution through proper waste identification and segregation through a display of materials that usually end up in landfills and the ocean.
The Manila Bay area is the Philippines’ major center of economic activity but remains to be one of the world’s most polluted bodies of water due to untreated sewage and solid waste. USAID, OSEAN, and CORA Philippines take on the mission of enhancing marine litter management in the Philippines through the Clean Cities Blue Ocean Eco-Ikot Center and the #MyOSEANMission campaign.
Through the development of more effective marine litter monitoring, deepening understanding of the marine litter problem, and ultimately the the design and execution of impactful, cost-effective policies and management practices to address marine litter in Manila Bay, #MyOSEANMission aims to ignite active volunteerism, engagement and influence positive behavioral change towards marine litter in the Philippines.
The exhibit is in partnership with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and SM City BF Parañaque.
IGNITING ACTION WITH THE ECO-IKOT ROADSHOW CARAVAN
To strengthen collaboration on proper waste management and the promotion of circular economy at the community level, CORA Philippines sealed a partnership with the Parañaque City Local Government Unit (LGU) in support of CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center, a project under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program.
USAID and CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center is an all-inclusive, replicable circular economy model that promotes proper solid waste management (SWM) and 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse Recycle) for communities to prevent waste from ending up in landfills and the marine environment.
“We, at CORA, believe in the power of public-private partnerships in building a better world for all. From our pilot Eco-Ikot Center in Parañaque City, we continue to strive towards establishing the Eco-Ikot Center in other cities and barangays across the Philippines, providing a sustainable solution to the plastic pollution crisis that can be established in any community, and can provide livelihood and incentives to its local citizens,” said Antoinette Taus, founder of CORA.
The Eco-Ikot Center accepts clean, dry, and segregated materials in exchange for points that are redeemable for goods, e-Cash, and other livelihood products. Its fully-operation pilot location is in Barangay San Isidro, UPS5, Parañaque City.
Citizens may visit the exhibition from March 1 to 5 at SM BF Parañaque activity area. An Eco-Ikot Center Pop-up will also be accepting recyclables at the mall’s ground floor parking from 10:00 AM to 4:00PM from March 1 - 5, 2023.
About Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA)
CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable programs to help solve global issues centered on hunger, poverty, inequality, and climate change. Centered on volunteerism, community, and inclusivity, CORA’s projects are focused on empowering our most vulnerable citizens, schools, women, and the youth. CORA has been selected as one of the grant partners of USAID’s Clean Cities Program to develop 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. For more information, please visit www.wearecora.org/