Late last year, Circuit Makati became the setting for a timely conversation on how culture, innovation, and environmental responsibility can intersect in meaningful ways. On November 25, 2025, Ayala Foundation, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the City of Makati, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Clearbot, hosted the Innovation and Culture: Clearbot River Cleanup Showcase—an initiative that continues to shape how partners think about the future of the Pasig River and the district around it.
Held at Circuit Makati, the event reinforced a shared belief: that cultural spaces and healthy natural environments must evolve together. Along the banks of the Pasig River, where Ayala Foundation’s forthcoming contemporary arts museum is set to rise, partners demonstrated how technology and collaboration can support the long-term revival of one of Metro Manila’s most vital waterways.
The future museum—envisioned as a new cultural anchor for Makati—aims to bring contemporary art closer to the public while fostering dialogue, imagination, and shared experiences. Its riverside location is deliberate, reflecting Ayala Foundation’s broader view that vibrant cultural life and environmental care are inseparable in building livable, inclusive cities.
The showcase highlighted ongoing, collaborative efforts to help clean and revive the Pasig River, particularly in areas surrounding the future arts center. Government agencies, private-sector partners, and community stakeholders came together to demonstrate how shared action, supported by new technologies, can contribute to cleaner, more resilient urban spaces.
A key moment of the event was a live demonstration of Clearbot’s autonomous river-cleanup technology along the Pasig River near the Manila Boat Club, with a simultaneous livestream at the Alveo Showroom in Circuit Makati. Fully electric and solar-charged, Clearbot operates with zero emissions, navigating waterways through AI-driven missions and real-time obstacle detection. Its onboard cameras and sensors classify different types of waste and transmit geo-tagged data to an online dashboard—providing authorities with clearer insights into pollution hotspots and more targeted cleanup strategies.
Ayala Foundation President Tony Lambino underscored the importance of collaboration in translating ideas into impact. “Thriving communities are built when creativity, innovation, and collaboration meet,” he said. “Our efforts along the Pasig River reflect our commitment to nurturing spaces that are cleaner, more vibrant, and more inclusive for every Filipino.”
ADB reiterated its focus on cutting waste at the source while deploying innovative tools that strengthen urban resilience. Norio Saito, Senior Director of ADB’s Water and Urban Development Sector Office, noted that pilot initiatives like Clearbot complement broader efforts in waste segregation, resource recovery, and circular economy development—critical to restoring the Pasig River and improving daily life for the communities that depend on it.
Clear Robotics CEO Sidhant Gupta described the Pasig River as one of Asia’s most iconic waterways, emphasizing that its restoration can inspire similar efforts across the region. Meanwhile, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay highlighted how the Clearbot pilot supports the city’s ongoing work to reduce flooding risks, improve water quality, and strengthen data-driven cleanup efforts.
As Makati and its partners move into 2026, the Clearbot River Cleanup Showcase stands as a recent milestone—one that signals how innovation, culture, and collective responsibility can come together to care for both the city and the river that runs through it.
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