
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Sunday, Jan. 7, that it will establish a scheme that will provide incentives to the cleanest among the country’s 42,000 barangays.
Under the plan to ‘incentivize’ the local government units (LGUs), the DILG noted that it will create a recognition system that will monitor, evaluate and award the cleanest barangays in the country.
On Saturday, Jan. 6, DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. led the nationwide simultaneous launching of the Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan or Kalinisan Project at Baseco Compound on Barangay 649 in Manila.
The Kalinisan project is the DILG’s new convergence initiative to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment and enable community participation anchored on the spirit of "bayanihan".
Highlighting the importance of cleanliness, Abalos urged the LGUs to invest in programs, projects, and activities on solid waste management and ecological practices.
He also called on local officials to pass ordinances in their areas imposing community service punishment to those who will be caught littering or throwing garbage in public places.
Aside from the DILG, among the agencies involved in the nationwide clean-up activity include the Presidential Communications Office, the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.