Makati City Mayor Abby Binay expressed her gratitude and respect to the city's unsung heroes on Monday, April 10, as the country celebrated Araw ng Kagitingan on Sunday, April 9. The Day of Valor, officially known as Araw ng Kagitingan, is a national observance in the country which commemorates the fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II. The day is officially celebrated every April 9, the start of the Bataan Death March, although the date was moved on several occasions to avoid it from coinciding with the observance of the Holy Week in the country, especially the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday. Binay gave due recognition to not just the city's police force, firemen, medical and emergency responders, and traffic enforcers, but also to Makati's street sweepers and garbage collectors who are non-stop in fulfilling their duties 24/7. She stressed that these public servants are vital in ensuring the cleanliness and sustainability of the city, especially amid the effects of climate change and pollution that are being experienced in the country. "Holiday man, umuulan, o katirikan ng araw, andyan silang lahat para magbigay ng tapat na serbisyo para sa ating Proud Makatizens. Special shout out nga pala sa mga lider at kawani ng Department of Environmental Services. Saludo po ako sa inyong sipag at dedikasyon sa serbisyo (Regardless if it's a holiday, in the middle of the rain, or under the heat if the sun, these people are still performing their duties with loyalty for the sake of our Proud Makatizens. I would also like to give recognition to the leaders and employees of the Department of Environmental Services. I salute you for your dedication and hard work in your service)," Binay said. The local chief also noted the city's latest achievements in fulfilling its mandate in ensuring the cleanliness of its waterways and creeks which include being named the Grand Champion in two categories in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region's (DENR-NCR) “Gawad Taga-Ilog 3.0” Search for the Most Improved Estero in Metro Manila”. Makati City also won the Most Improved Creek award for its PNR Creek in Barangay San Antonio and the second award for its Habitat & Resources Management for the said creek. "Ang tagumpay na ito ay tanda ng ating commitment sa environmental sustainability at sa layunin nating panatilihing malinis at dumadaloy ang ating mga waterways (These victories are reminders of our commitment in environmental sustainability and our goal to keep our waterways clean)," Binay noted. In December last year, the city was awarded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as the over-all champion LGU in the Manila Bay Clean-up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRPP). Representatives from the Department of Environmental Services of Makati received the award and recognition for also being included in the Top 3 most compliant LGUs in the program after recording 98.07 percent compliance. Binay said that the recognitions are the fruit of the city's labor in promoting environmental awareness and addressing climate change that doesn't just affect the country but the whole world. She added that all LGUs in the Metro have an obligation to help and be a part of the MBCRPP which aims to restore the former glory of Manila Bay. She said that in order for it to become a reality, the LGUs must work together to find a solution to its water quality and put a halt to the adverse effects caused by pollution by means of waste management, restoration of ecosystems, habitat conservation, coastal resource management, and community empowerment activities.