The Philippines is among the top five countries that have registered to contribute more than a million hours of effort in tackling climate change and other environmental issues, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) said.

The Philippines registered over 26,112 hours, nearly half of what the number one country, India, the UNV said. It said India contributed over 53,917 hours.

The initiative was initiated through the UNV program website launched last October dubbed “Volunteering for our Planet.”

The global campaign promotes voluntary effort for the environment where thousands visited the website, www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org.

There volunteers register the time that they spent voluntarily helping communities adapt and innovate, and mitigate the causes and effects of climate change.

As part of the campaign to promote the International Volunteer Day Saturday, hundreds of local and foreign volunteers joined the IVD global celebrations with environmental cleanup activities done in Marikina River and Manila Bay.

Around 300 volunteers assembled at the Marikina Social Action Center for post-Ondoy cleanup, and 200 volunteers did cleanup activities at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area along Manila Bay.