Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro called upon Marikeños on Monday, Feb. 9, to also do their part in ensuring the cleanliness of the city as it revives the "Tapat ko, Linis ko" campaign promoting environmental protection and sustainability through community discipline and cooperation.

Teodoro made the statement during the city's flag-raising ceremony, where she stressed the city government's seriousness in addressing environmental problems in Marikina.

“Ang inter-agency task force po ay panimula—isang malinaw na mensahe na seryoso tayo sa kaayusan. Hindi lang po ito simpleng paglilinis. Sinusuyod po natin ang bawat kalsada, bawat kalyehon, sa bawat barangay na ating dinadapuan, para tiyaking maayos, ligtas, at kaaya-aya ang ating paligid (The inter-agency task force is a start—a clear message that we are serious about maintaining order. Tapat ko, Links ko is not just a simple cleanup. We are cleaning every road, every alley, in every barangay we visit, to ensure that our surroundings are orderly, safe, and pleasant)," she explained, noting that these efforts will only succeed if residents continue the work even after clearing operations are completed.

“Ang kaayusang sinimulan ng inter-agency ay dapat ipinagpapatuloy at minemaintain ng mga residente. Hindi po puwedeng pag-alis ng task force, balik na ulit sa dati. Dapat po, ang disiplina ay hindi nawawala. Kaya muli po nating buhayin ang diwa ng ‘Tapat ko, Linis ko' (The order initiated by the inter-agency must be continued and maintained by the residents. I urge everyone to refrain from going back to the old ways once the task force has finished its job. Discipline must not be lost; that is why we must revive the spirit of ‘Tapat ko, Linis ko’)," she noted.

Teodoro also called upon barangay officials to strictly enforce the city's ordinances related to cleanliness, proper use of roads and alleys, and overall order in their areas of responsibility, as they are at the grassroots level of the community and serve as the bridge between the city government and the residents.

At city hall, the mayor reminded employees to set the example by keeping their offices clean and orderly through the regular implementation of the 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain), as well as the conduct of regular cleanliness inspections in their offices.

More secure bike lanes eyed

The city government is also stepping up its measures to ensure the safety and accessibility of Marikina’s bike lanes through the installation of more streetlights and CCTVs on its bike lanes.

“Para masigurong ligtas ang paggamit nito, maglalagay din po tayo ng street lights at CCTV sa piling mga lokasyon ng ating bike lanes. Hindi lang po ito para sa mga siklista, kundi para sa seguridad ng buong komunidad, araw man o gabi (To ensure its safe use, we will also install street lights and CCTVs at selected locations on our bike lanes. This is not just for cyclists, but for the safety of the entire community, day or night)," Teodoro explained.

She also stressed the city’s goal of developing a connected bike lane network that can serve as a practical transport option for residents, urging those living near bike lanes to help keep them clear and free from obstructions.