The Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera urged village leaders, including officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), to spearhead the identification and setting up of a regular cleanup day in their respective jurisdictions to maintain cleanliness and avoid illnesses.
The call was made by DILG-CAR Director Ruperto Maribbay at the launch of the nationwide cleanup drive dubbed “Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas” at South Sanitary Camp, Baguio City.
“Itong pangyayaring ito ay nationwide, at ang kautusan ni Secretary Benhur Abalos, ito po ay kailangan gawin sa lahat ng barangay na pinapangunahan ng barangay officials at SK officials at hikayatin na lahat ng tao sa barangay, sa komunidad ay lumabas sa kanilang bahay at maki-isa sa Kalinisan program na ito,” Maribbay said.
He said the nationwide launch aims to drumbeat President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a concerted cleanup drive to maintain a sanitary and comfortable environment that will lead to a healthy community.
Maribbay said after the launch, barangays would be responsible for setting up a regular cleanup of the alleys, canals, and waterways to prevent wastes from accumulating and allowing illness-causing insects to thrive.
Regular cleaning activity will also prevent garbage from ending in rivers and waterways leading to the ocean.
He said cleanliness starts with a person, inside the residence, and extends to the yard and the community.
“Gawin natin na role model sa ating bahay, sa ating tahanan, na hindi lang ikaw ay ordinary citizen, ikaw po sana ay role model sa lahat ng miyembro ng komunidad para ipanguna ang paggawa, itong regular practice ng paglilinis, hindi lang sa ating bahay, kundi rin sa labas ng ating bahay, sa ating kapaligiran sa komunidad,” Maribbay said.
Meanwhile, partner agencies who attended the launch committed to aligning their programs to the Kalinisan program of the national government.
Enrique Gascon, acting director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-CAR, said the agency would mobilize and use the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kalahi-CIDSS beneficiaries and cash-for-work recipients to help in the Kalinisan program.
“We will align all the programs of the DSWD with this program as our contribution to the success of this initiative to make us all healthy,” Gascon said in a message during the launch.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Regional Director Benjamin Ventura also committed his department’s support for the program, which is geared towards resiliency and environment sustainability.
Philippine Information Agency Director Helen Tibaldo said they would seek the help of the Presidential Communications Office family in the Cordillera to help in the information campaign to extend cooperation and unity for cleaning.
“We will do our best to utilize all information platforms to reach audiences to support this initiative that is geared towards a healthy Filipino,” she said. – PNA
