Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and MMDA chairman Don Artes lead the clean-up drive on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2023 during the launching of the KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) at the Baseco, Compound in Tondo, Manila. (photo: MMDA)
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has collected more than 25 trucks of garbage in various parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) during a one-day simultaneous clean-up drive on Saturday, Jan. 6.
MMDA General Manager Don Artes said the clean-up drive was in support of the government’s KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) program wherein a total of 350 of their personnel were deployed in 17 areas in the metropolis.
"The Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas is in sync with our constant call to the public to do their part in lessening, if not eliminating, our wastes. We join the call of DILG to renew and strengthen community participation in our fight against indiscriminate solid waste disposal. Taking care of our environment is our shared responsibility," said Artes.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched the program at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila and simultaneous clean-up drives were also conducted in 16 other NCR areas.
The KALINISAN program is a convergence initiative to consolidate all efforts of the government to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment for all by capacitating local government units and enabling community participation anchored on a new brand of “bayanihan”.
It aims to raise awareness and encourage participation among the public on environmental responsibility through proper solid waste management; to encourage local government units to invest in programs, projects, and activities on solid waste management and ecological practices, and to set up a recognition system for the cleanest barangay and municipalities.
Among the areas where simultaneous cleanup drives were held are as follows: Barangay Tanza (Tanza Marine Tree Park) in Navotas City; Barangay Tonsuya (Letre Creek) in Malabon City; Barangay Paso de Blas (De Castro Subdivision) in Valenzuela City; Brgy 28, 14 (C-3 Road) and 12 Lapu-lapu Creek in Caloocan City; Brgy. Commonwealth and Brgy. Talipapa in Quezon City; Brgy.Batis in San Juan City; Brgy. Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City; Brgy. Tumana and Brgy. Malanday (Creek) in Marikina City; Brgy. Pinagbuhatan (Avesa Creek) in Pasig City; Brgy. San Pedro in Pateros; Brgy. Ususan Kalayaan in Taguig City; Brgy. San Isidro (Tripa de Gallina site) in Makati City; Brgy. 145- 190/Sto. Niño, Don Carlos (Tripa de Gallina) in Pasay City; Brgy. Tramo (Redemptorist Channel) in Parañaque City; Brgy. Poblacion (Biazon Rd.) in Muntinlupa City; Brgy. Pulang Lupa Uno and Brgy. Manuyo Dos in Las Piñas City.