More than 2.6 million kilograms of trash were collected during the launch of the Marcos administration’s Kalinga at Inisyatiba Para Sa Malinis na Bayan (KALINISAN) program, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Monday.
In a statement, the PCO said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday launched the program with a national simultaneous clean-up drive involving over 9,000 barangays.
“A national status report of the DILG released late Sunday showed the KALINISAN program had collected 2,646,948 kilograms of trash from 9,189 participating barangays in the country,” the PCO said.
Around 580,000 people and 109,939 local officials participated in the clean-up drive.
Most of the participants were in Calabarzon with 117,161; followed by Cagayan with 103,249; and Central Luzon with 103,044. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region (NCR) had 39,109 participants.
The kick-off ceremony for the program was held at the Baseco Compound in Tondo in Manila, headed by DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos. It also coincided with the observance of the Community Development Day.
According to Abalos, the DILG will recognize the local government units with efficient implementation of the KALINISAN program every quarter.
He said the program aims to showcase the spirit of volunteerism as they ensure safe and healthy communities.
In line with the program, Abalos called on mayors to pass ordinances requiring community service for individuals who will be caught littering. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News
