Clean Air Asia and Barangay 128 in Tondo, Manila have signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of their commitment to improve the air quality in the municipality through community-based initiatives.
The ceremony formalized the implementation of the Asia Blue Skies Program in the barangay. The Asia Blue Skies Program, – a partnership between Clean Air Asia, 3M, and the local government of Manila City through the Department of Public Services (DPS), is now on its third year of implementation. The program supports cities on air pollution and greenhouse gas management, with Barangay 128 serving as the pilot community for the local implementation of the city Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP).
“We really look forward to continuing our engagement with Barangay 128, the City of Manila, and our partners like 3M. We would like to see that our work results in actual emission reduction and prevention of health impacts of air pollution in Barangay 128,” said Glynda Bathan-Baterina, Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia.
In Barangay 128, the project implementation takes on a community-based approach, which included key members of the barangay in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of the CAAP.
“Gusto namin mag simula with understanding ano yung sitwasyon dito sa barangay, ano yung emission sources, ano yung personal experiences ng mga tao on air pollution. And based on those, we came up with key outcomes that we want to achieve for this year,” added Precious Benjamin, Capacity Development Officer of Clean Air Asia.
(We also wanted to start with understanding the situation of the barangay, its emission sources, and their personal experiences on air pollution. Based on those, we came up with key outcomes that we want to achieve for this year.)
These activities were focused on the reduction or elimination of emissions from area sources (e.g., open burning,); continued air quality management capacity building; and implementation of information, education, and communication activities in the barangay.
“Hayaan niyo po at ang barangay ay pagyayamanin po ang proyektong ito para ng sa ganon ay maging ehemplo po kami sa iba pang mga barangay na bibigyan din ng ganitong klaseng proyekto,” said Barangay 128 Chairperson Sigfred Hernane.
(Rest assured that we will continue to nurture this project so that it will serve as a role model for other barangays that will have the same project implementation.)
The ceremony was witnessed by Ms. Kayle Nicole Amurao from the Manila City DPS and Mr. Rodney Ronsayro from 3M Philippines.