The DILG, led by Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., with the Office of the Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs (OUSBA), the Office of the Undersecretary for Operations, the Office of the Undersecretary for Public Safety, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Participation, DILG-National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), and the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), once again highlighted the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability with the KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) sa Bagong Pilipinas Clean-up Program held at Maytunas Creek, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

The clean-up activity was conducted by the City Government of Mandaluyong headed by City Mayor Benjamin Abalos, Sr. and City Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Eastern Fire District, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Department of Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), all of which showed full support in the DILG’s program aimed at fostering a waste-free environment. The community of Barangay Addition Hills headed by Punong Barangay Carlito Cernal was able to muster over 500 individuals in the clean-up activity at the Maytunas Creek, which traverses the barangay.

Volunteers from different organizations including Kuwalisyon ng Samahang Mamamayan ng Welfareville, ACCERT, and the local market association willingly participated in the clean-up. The City Government of Mandaluyong also ensured that all their 27 Barangays participated in the clean-up activity. Likewise, the barangays regularly conduct simultaneous clean-up activities in their respective areas.

During the program, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos, Sr. thankfully welcomed the presence of the Secretary, and was grateful for the opportunity given to the City of Mandaluyong to be today’s showcase site. With this, Mayor Abalos Sr. expressed that the city is in full support of the KALINISAN Program. The Mayor also shared that the environment is one of the City’s prime concerns, and that the City of Mandaluyong strives to provide fair compensation to its environmental workers.

“Alam niyo po dito sa Mandaluyong, dito niyo lang po makikita na lahat po ng aming street sweepers dito ay now earning minimum wage”, the City Mayor shared.

Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr., in turn, was honored to represent Mandaluyong since the City prioritizes cleanliness as one of the key welfare indicators of their citizens. He also reminded the value of a zero-waste community for all.

“Ang tunay na KALINISAN ay dapat nagmumula sa sarili; sa ating tahanan, sa ating komunidad, at sa ating kapaligiran,” DILG Secretary Abalos said.

The DILG Secretary also included in his keynote speech the excellent compliance of the Mandaluyong LGU not just on environmental concerns, but on different sectors that the DILG continually monitors, such as peace and order, and good local governance.

“Mandaluyong, I would like to congratulate you sa lahat ng aspeto ng governance tulad ng financial housekeeping, na bahagi ng Seal of Good Local Governance. Sa Metro Manila, dalawa lang ang continuously nananalo [SGLG] mula noong 2014. Isa po rito ang Lungsod ng Mandaluyong”, the Secretary proudly remarked.

Secretary Abalos led the Pledge of Commitment right after, reminding everyone to remain disciplined in handling their trash. During the clean-up, participating volunteers, officials, and citizens gathered over 120 sacks of mixed solid waste along the two-kilometer stretch of the Maytunas Creek.

The Department relentlessly reinforces the KALINISAN effort to rid the entire region of unnecessary waste, especially in places that are considered public spaces, which should be enjoyed by all members of the community.