Saving the environment is the call of the times
Civic worker and socialite Marichelle Torres Ackerman travels around the country to engage in climate conversations.
As the ambassador of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), she is tasked to raise awareness on environment issues and protect the surroundings.
After attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai last December, she noted that climate justice, which was widely discussed, is relevant in the Philippines. Climate justice calls for protecting disadvantaged communities from environmental harm, educating them about climate change and giving them assistance from climate action, such as better health conditions and livelihood.
As charter president of the Rotary Club of Makati Business District, Ackerman says her organization will continue spreading the word on climate change, the Pasig River clean-up and the annual Green Gala, which honors eco-warriors and environmental activists and raises funds for the club’s projects.
Revitalizing Pasig
The cleanup of Pasig River involves several companies and organizations. Leading the pack is San Miguel Corp. (SMC) which reportedly earmarked P3 billion for its five-year plan of extracting silt and garbage from the river. It acquired advanced dredges—apparatuses that scoop debris from waterways.
The Rotary Club of Makati Business District has been working on improving the water quality by using reverse osmosis (RO) machines to take out pollutants. Then, probiotics enzymes are infused to reduce microorganisms and ammonia that pollute the river and increase the oxygen and alkalinity in the water.
“After removing the contaminants, our job is to make the water clean and livable for marine life. To show leadership by example, we started in our own backyard—in front of the CCC office, which is part of Malacañang. The river across us was black then. Once it was cleaned up and infused with enzymes, fish emerged,” says Ackerman.
The vision is to involve more companies which can help in revitalizing the 27-km Pasig River. “Some have joined the advocacy. They were inspired because they saw the change from a black river to a clean one. The RO makes the water clear as possible. It took five days to treat it,” she adds.
The club works with the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development, which will relocate informal settlers. It will also encourage factories along the Pasig River to join the cleanup.
One of Ackerman’s biggest projects is the Green Gala, held every November. The fundraising event commemorates the anniversary of the Rotary Club of Makati Business District which was founded on the eve of the Yolanda landfall in Nov. 8, 2013. The club has since made climate change its major advocacy.Eco-warriors
The recent Green Gala, held at Manila Hotel, acknowledged organizations and individuals in different fields who have helped protect the environment.
San Miguel Corp. SMC president Ramon S. Ang is earmarking P3 billion to clean out the waterways to prevent flooding. The work entailed the removal of sediments and waste from Tullihan and Pasig Rivers, and coastal cleanup has been initiated in Tanza, Navotas City.
Palafox & Associates. The founder, Felino Palafox, dubbed the “Green Architect,” works on the principle of putting people and planet first before profit and economic development.
Liter of Light Philippines. This social enterprise, led by Illac Diaz, has provided solar lamps to legions of underprivileged communities as a free alternative energy source.
Ramon Orlina. The award-winning sculptor developed his unique cut glass sculpture made with recycled glass. In 1975, he invented a technique of cutting, grinding and smoothing excess glass from Republic Glass.
Gilbert Angeles. A postconsumer waste artist, he upcycles single-use plastic and shredded plastic sachets as material for contemporary artworks and recycling trash into conversation pieces. He has also been sharing his art with students.
DDC Land Inc. Martin and Edna Sutter, owners of this real estate firm, have been providing bamboo propagules through its CSR Bamboo Initiative for Growth Philippines (Big PH). Farmers are encouraged to cultivate bamboo trees to that protect the environment. Edna has been providing livelihood through giant bamboo farming
EcoDive. Founder Joyce Hafton launched Scubasurero, a portmanteau of scuba diving and basurero or garbage collector. It advocates the removal of wastes and litter from the ocean floor to protect marine organisms.
Citations were also given to Kyani Philippines for sustainable nutrition; Brotherhood of Brave Maharlikhan Tigers for assisting the Rotary Club in advocacy trips around the country; Trees for Life Foundation, an international charity which restores ecosystems; the United States Agency for International Development for being the first development agency to assist “Yolanda” victims in Leyte; singers Geneva Cruz and Jeffrey Hidalgo for their environment-inspired music; dance company El Gamma Penumbra for their nature-derived shadow plays; and Pagsanjan Mayor Caesar Areza and Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil for initiating their recycling program called Waste2 Energy project.
Special citations were given to Global Green Growth Institute chairman Ban Ki-moon and the late Gina Lopez for her Bantay Kalikasan foundation.
Message of hope
For nearly two decades, Ackerman has been a volunteer at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong for Women. In every Green Gala, environmental activists and friends model clothes sewn by these women using recycled materials. This fashion project has been a partnership with the congressional and senatorial spouses.
Shawls and skirts were made with pouches from Kyani Philippines, a vitamins and supplements brand. Other gowns were fashioned from Tetra Paks of Nestle and SMC, companies with environmental advocacies, as well as Coca-Cola labels, and garbage bags.
Ackerman’s goal is to motivate individuals and companies to be more eco-aware and promote sustainable and recyclable products. The club’s biggest achievement is supplying solar lamps around the country.
“We have been donating solar lamps from Liter of Light and teaching communities such as the Aetas how to make solar lamps. We brought the largest solar lamp of Sto. Niño in Cebu during the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. During the pandemic we produced artworks, called Messages of Hope, which were displayed in Luneta. We have been going around the Philippines teaching students about the effects of climate change,” she says.
