ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Property and Living devider For healthier urban spaces, Ayala Foundation showcases cleanup effort in Pasig River

For healthier urban spaces, Ayala Foundation showcases cleanup effort in Pasig River

The AI-powered robot will help revive the Pasig riverfront, the future site of the Contemporary Arts Center by Ayala Foundation

Published Dec 5, 2025 10:36 am
The Contemporary Art Center will soon rise in Circuit Makati (Artist's perspective, Ayala Foundation)
The Contemporary Art Center will soon rise in Circuit Makati (Artist's perspective, Ayala Foundation)
The Ayala Foundation, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the City of Makati, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Clear Robotics (ClearBot), recently showcased the collective efforts toward a cleaner Pasig River on November 25, 2025.
The event showcased the AI-powered ClearBot and its innovative capabilities, which aim to help revive the Pasig River as part of the ADB’s Rejuvenating Pasig River for a Livable Manila (REPALM) initiative.
ClearBot CEO and Co-founder Sidhant Gupta presented how ClearBot collects solid wastes and water hyacinths in esteros linked to the Pasig. With the use of AI, the boat is capable of detecting different types of garbage and identifying animals and other vessels. It is solar-powered and can be controlled remotely, a safety measure that enables operators to avoid handling wastes that can be toxic and harmful to their health. ClearBot can also transmit data and images along the river with a GPS location.
ClearBot CEO and Co-founder Sidhant Gupta
ClearBot CEO and Co-founder Sidhant Gupta
The event also highlighted how community partnerships can come together to build cleaner, more vibrant urban spaces.
Ayala Foundation President Antonio “Tony” G. Lambino II said, “The Pasig River has long shaped the life of our city. A cleaner and healthier river uplifts surrounding communities and creates spaces where people can gather, learn, commute, and enjoy the outdoors. Efforts like today’s demonstration help us imagine what a more vibrant and welcoming riverfront could look like for the communities that live and spend time in this district. Just steps from where we stand is Ayala Foundation’s future Contemporary Arts Center that we hope will be an iconic landmark rising along the Pasig River.”
The AI-powered Clearbot for river cleanup.
The AI-powered Clearbot for river cleanup.
Envisioned to become a cultural landmark, the Contemporary Arts Center in Circuit Makati celebrates Filipino contemporary creativity. As part of Ayala Foundation’s mission to enrich lives through education, culture, and community development, the center aims to become a defining destination for both local and international audiences.
“Our purpose is to provide a platform where artists, students, families, and communities can explore new ideas, engage with diverse perspectives, and experience how culture-led initiatives shape a more vibrant community,” said Project Director Kenneth Mitchell C. Stern of Ayala Foundation, Inc.
He also emphasized the Ayala Foundation’s support for the government-led river rehabilitation project, as this initiative aligns with its goals of promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, and responsible urban development.
Ayala Foundation President Antonio “Tony” G. Lambino II
Ayala Foundation President Antonio “Tony” G. Lambino II
“The Pasig River forms an important part of the contemporary art center’s context. Situated along a historically significant stretch of the river, the center underscores the connection between cultural spaces and the natural environment,” said Stern. “The center's riverside location offers a unique opportunity to highlight and encourage public appreciation for the river’s revitalization and for the role of shared spaces in building healthier, more livable communities,” he added.
Once completed, the center will be an accessible and welcoming space to the public. As a venue, it will offer a range of exhibitions, educational programs, public events, and community-oriented activities designed to connect everyday life with contemporary artistic expression.
Construction is underway, and the center is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2028.

Related Tags

Ayala Foundation Clearbot Contemporary Art Center Circuit Makati Antonio Lambino
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.