The local governments of Malabon and Valenzuela launched a clean-up drive on Tuesday, May 13, to remove campaign materials left from the recent elections.

In Malabon, around 150 personnel from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) were deployed in different barangays to remove tarpaulins, posters, and other campaign materials.

According to Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, the initiative supports the city’s goal of maintaining “kalinisan at kaayusan (cleanliness and order)” after the elections.

“Matapos po ang naging halalan nitong Lunes, ay agad pong nagsagawa ang pamahalaang lungsod, sa pangunguna ng CENRO, ng paglilinis at pagtatanggal ng mga materyales na ginamit ng mga kandidato noong kampanya,” she said.

“Ito ay bahagi ng ating layuning mapanatili ang kalinisan at kaayusan sa ating lungsod na siyang madadala sa atin sa mas maayos at maaliwalas na Malabon," Sandoval added. 

CENRO Officer-in-Charge Mark Mesina said the clean-up would run throughout the week, with street sweepers and clean-up crews working together to take down election materials. 

“Simula noong Tuesday hanggang ngayon... ang order natin hanggang linggong 'to, tumulong, alisin natin 'yung mga nasa gilid-gilid, mapa-plastic man 'yan, tarpaulin man 'yan, papel man, kunin na 'yan," 

Collected items are brought to the city’s transfer station in Barangay Tugatog for proper segregation and eventual turnover to a partner recycling company.

The city government also urged the residents and local election aspirants to take responsibility for removing their remaining campaign materials still posted in public spaces.

“Sana tumulong 'yung ating kapwa Malabueños sa paglilinis ng ating paligid. Nakita naman natin na nitong mga nakaraang araw nagu-uulan na eh, so ang karugtong ng ulan ay baha. Kung itong mga campaign materials na ito ay papabayaan nating nariyan at tangayin lang papunta sa kanal, ito 'yung magiging dahilan kung bakit magkakaroon talaga ng pagbaha sa atin. So sana umiral 'yong volunteerism sa bawat isa na tumulong na tayo sa pag-alis (We hope our fellow Malabueños will help clean up our surroundings. As we’ve seen, it’s been raining these past few days, and with rain often comes flooding. If we just leave these campaign materials lying around and let them get washed into the drainage systems, they’ll end up causing floods. So we hope everyone embraces the spirit of volunteerism and takes part in clearing them out),” he said. 

"Nandito tayo bilang gobyerno, ang tanggapan natin upang tumulong maglinis. Pero siyempre, mas maganda kung magkakaroon pa rin ng pagtutulungan—ang mga residente mag-volunteer, mag-alis nito (We, as the government and through our office, are here to help with the cleanup. But of course, it would be much better if there’s cooperation—if residents volunteer and help remove these themselves,” Mesina added. 

The city government added that those residents who want to help are urged to coordinate with CENRO to ensure that dismantled campaign materials are properly recycled.

Meanwhile, in Valenzuela City, the local government simultaneously launched “Oplan Linis Ganda” on Tuesday. 

Personnel from the Clean and Green Division were immediately mobilized to take down posters and restore the city’s cleanliness.

In a Facebook post, Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian reminded candidates through a Facebook post: “Tarp mo, Linis mo (Your tarp, your responsibility).”

“Tulong-tulong po tayong ayusin ang ating mga bakuran at kalsada... back to work na agad! (Let’s work together to clean up our yards and streets... it’s back to work right away!),” Gatchalian added. 

Both LGUs emphasized the importance of community cooperation in the post-election clean-up, encouraging residents to volunteer and help ensure that streets and neighborhoods remain clear and hazard-free.