Keeping Intramuros clean with tourists, volunteers in weekly drive��

THE ADMINISTRATION of Intramuros, a Spanish-era walled city in Manila, is tapping tourists and other volunteers for a weekly clean-up activity that it hopes will serve as an example for other tourist-heavy sites.������

“We’re targeting partnerships with schools and companies so we can reach 100 participants every week. That would mean 400 volunteers a month, or about 5,000 volunteers a year,” said Jeffrey Yap, officer-in-charge for urban planning and community development in Intramuros.����

Launched in March, the “Cleantramuros” project has seen dozens up to a hundred participants each week.������

Though the famed “Walled City” has its own janitors and cleaners, the clean-up drive was started for the larger purpose of “creating a culture of respect for the heritage district,” according to Mr. Yap.����

He told ����ý in a Zoom interview that despite Intramuros being named Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction in the 2022 World Travel Awards, the historic site can still be greatly improved.����

“Of course, we’re championing it as the premier heritage district, but unfortunately, most visitors throw trash everywhere. People will be more aware if they see a clean-up drive,” he said.����

Volunteers get to avail free entrance to Fort Santiago, which usually costs P75.����

According to the Department of Tourism, the capital city of Manila attracts over a million visitors each year, with Intramuros being one of the main attractions.����

Mr. Yap explained that this heavy foot traffic means more care needs to be put into preserving the built heritage, including the cobblestones and the walls.����

“We’re partnering with the Climate Change Commission so that we can be mindful about the physical impact and further study how to protect the concerned sites,” he said. — Brontë H. Lacsamana