MANILA, Philippines — Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Darren Criss has called on mayors in the Philippines to implement zero waste programs in their respective cities.
Criss made the call after visiting the country on the first week of April.
“I’m urging mayors in the Philippines to implement zero waste programs in their cities in partnership with their communities,” Criss wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday.
Criss said he flew to the country with his friends from the Global Citizen movement to learn about the problem of waste management in Metro Manila.
“So let’s talk about waste management. Yeah, I know, it’s not a very sexy topic— but that’s exactly why it’s such a massive issue in so many parts of the world,” Criss wrote.
“So I decided to take a trip to the Philippines, a country close to my heart, with my friends from [Global Citizen] to learn specifically about Metro Manila’s waste and sustainability challenges.”
Global Citizen, according to its website, is a movement “of engaged citizens who are using their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030.”
“I met a lot of inspiring people who have made incredible strides towards creating a cleaner, greener future, but the obstacles they face are still overwhelming,” he added.
Criss then encouraged his followers to sign a petition asking mayors to commit their leadership in implementing zero waste programs.
“As a Global Citizen, I’ve pledged to do my part to reduce my usage of plastic, but as a proud Philippine citizen I need you to join me in making a true collective impact,” the petition read.
“I’m calling on you to commit your leadership and resources as Mayors of metropolitan Manilla to begin implementing Zero Waste Program in your cites,” it added. /ee