The Department of the Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) joined the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Road to Zero Waste Expo on Friday, January 24, 2025, at the MMDA Motorcycle Riding Academy in Pasig City.

The MMDA and the DILG have long been partners in various initiatives promoting solid waste management and cleanliness across the National Capital Region. In her message of support at the program proper, Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez, CESO IV expressed grateful acknowledgment for the host agency’s efforts and mentioned the collaborative programs that the two agencies have jointly undertaken or been involved in to advance solid waste management.

“Sa amin po sa DILG, from our mandate of exercising general supervision over the Local Government Units, marami po kaming mga programa na nagbibigay ng pagpapahalaga sa solid waste management, katulad ng Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), SGLG for Barangays (SGLGB), MBCRPP, KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas Program; ito pong lahat ay tungo sa ating common objective: ang kalinisan at magandang practices on SWM. Kami po sa DILG ay laging katuwang ng MMDA sa mga ito,” ARD Baltazar-Cortez said.

In addition, ARD Baltazar-Cortez also reminded and encouraged the LGUs on the importance of adopting various SWM practices within their jurisdictions.

“Mahalaga rin po para sa ating mga LGUs na i-ensure na nakalakip sa ating mga plano, at kaukulang budget po ang nailalagay, kasama na ang practices ng community. Kailangang nasa grassroots, na-iimbibe na ang disiplina,” ARD mentioned.

MMDA General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana, after ARD’s message, thanked her and the Department for the support.

With the theme “Clean Metro Manila”, the Expo, led by the MMDA’s Solid Waste Management Office or the MMDA-SWMO, displayed various booths courtesy of innovators hailing from the plastic sector: Ecowaste Coalition, Philippine Plastics Industry Association, Inc., Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, Craftcha, Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability, among others. These companies have also partnered with the Department and continue to actively engage in its capacity development activities under the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP).

The NCR LGUs of Manila, Pasig, Parañaque, and Quezon City also had booths sharing their city’s recycling and diversion methods.

Attended by students from various schools within the National Capital Region, members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, National Government Agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders, the Expo served as a valuable learning platform for participants. It engaged them in discussions on solid waste management, interactive booth activities, and more, creating an environment conducive to adopting best practices in cleanliness for various sectors and levels of governance and the community.

The Department plans to maintain this momentum by continuing to support other National Government Agencies in their environmental initiatives and advocacies, while also executing its own. This commitment will extend throughout 2025 and the years to come.