Sen. Cynthia A. Villar on Thursday (December 1) joined the rest of the world in the observation of the 2016 International Volunteer Day and led hundreds of volunteers in numerous environment-friendly activities to mark the celebration.
Some 500 environmental volunteers from partner government agencies joined Villar in a coastal clean-up of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) to kick-off the event, which carries this year’s theme, ‘Global Applause – Give Volunteers A Hand.’
The group also enjoyed bird watching and had a breath of fresh air while in a Nature Walk at the LPPCHEA grounds, a 175-hectare protected area which is Metro Manila’s last remaining beach and mangrove area.
‘We all love Mother Nature. And there is nothing more that touches my heart than seeing hundreds of volunteers share my passion. This act of volunteerism to protect the environment is one of the most noble, if not the noblest of all, because the task entails so much work, time and effort,’ Villa told the volunteers present during the event.
The observance of the International Volunteer Day, set on December 5, aims to encourage organizations and individual volunteers to work together on projects and campaigns, such as environment protection, that will promote their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels.
This year’s observance celebrates volunteerism in all facets and pays special tribute to the success achieved through volunteerism. The theme, ‘Global Applause- Give Volunteers A Hand’, recognizes volunteers all over the world for making peace and sustainable development a reality.
To give tribute to the achievements of our country’s environment volunteers, Villar partnered with Villar SIPAG, the LPPCHEA Management, theCAVITEX-CARE (Cavitex Advocates for the Restoration of the Environment), the Alliance for Stewardship and Authentic Progress (ASAP), the Save Freedom Island Movement (SFIM), the Ministry of Ecology of the Archdiocese of Manila, the Center for Environmental Concerns, the Ecowaste Coalition, the Greenpeace Southeast Asia, the Mother Earth Foundation, the Oceana Philippines and the Society for the Conservation of Wetlands Philippines.(PR)
