QC marks 2025 Earth Day, highlights initiatives vs textile pollution
Mayor joy belmonte. with a child participant. in Retashow- an Earth day activity
MANILA, Philippines – In commemoration of Earth Day 2025, Quezon City launched a week-long series of activities aimed at addressing textile pollution and promoting mindful, climate-conscious consumption among QCitizens.
Spearheaded by the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (CCESD), the campaign features a range of events that highlight sustainable fashion, circularity, active living, and collective efforts to reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion and waste generation.
The celebration began with “Car-free, Carefree Sunday” on April 20, where families participated in an Easter Zumba, an Easter Egg Word Hunt featuring the city’s environmental programs, and received free fruit-bearing tree saplings to promote urban greening.
On April 22, in partnership with the Quezon City Public Library and the Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities, a puppet show adaptation of the climate action story “Ako na Mauuna” was held for children with disabilities, advancing inclusive environmental education.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte with city officials and former Senator Tito Sotto during the zero carbon in 2050 campaign of the QC LGU
The following day, on April 23, the city celebrated the second run of RetaShow: QC’s Catwalk to Sustainability – Kidswear Edition, a sustainable fashion competition that showcased children’s clothing made from upcycled textile materials.
On Friday, April 25, RePorma: QC Hall Employees Clothes Swapping Event will take place, encouraging government employees to donate, swap, and upcycle clothing instead of discarding them, reinforcing the city’s commitment to textile circularity and waste reduction.
“Not everyone realizes that we have long been fighting textile pollution caused by fast fashion. Reusing and repurposing old clothes—or ‘pinaglumaan’—has always been part of our Filipino culture. Now more than ever, we must revive and promote this practice, especially among the youth,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Complementing the textile circularity initiatives, the city also began enforcing its ban on single-use plastics and disposable materials across all city hall premises and facilities starting Monday, April 21, further advancing its broader sustainability agenda.
In line with environmental education, community orientations on Water Quality Management are currently being conducted in various barangays to build grassroots understanding of water conservation and pollution prevention—a timely initiative amid the summer season and the increasing pressure on the city’s water resources.
“We cannot confront the climate crisis alone. With the support and participation of every stakeholder, from the private institutions to our residents, we can collectively achieve an inclusive climate action for communities, strengthening our commitment towards our Zero Carbon by 2050 goal,” Mayor Belmonte pointed out.
