NAGA CITY, (PIA) – The province of Camarines Sur tops the lists of municipalities in the Bicol region with the highest waste collected after accumulating 270,658.10 kilograms of garbage or 17,812 sacks of trash after the nationwide launch of Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas clean up drive held Jan. 6, Saturday.

This was conveyed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Camarines Sur Provincial Director Julius Cal-Ortiz during the Ugnayan sa PIA radio program over 105.5 Bicol Idol FM Naga, Friday, January 12.

Out of 1,036 barangays in the province, 964 actively participated in the simultaneous clean-up initiative. The event drew 62,738 participants, including barangay residents, members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), TUPAD DOLE beneficiaries, educators, students, and representatives from various government agencies.

The island province of Masbate closely followed, contributing 259,250.85 kilos of collected waste while Albay accumulated a substantial volume of waste with 150,942.81 kilos of trash gathered. Sorsogon contributed 90,316.12 kilos; Catanduanes and Camarines Norte with 60,031 and 35,103.02 kilos of waste gathered, respectively.

Cam Sur showcase barangay gathers nearly 500kg of waste following clean-up drive

Approximately 500 kilograms of waste were gathered at Barangay Sta. Elena, Baras, in the town of Nabua, Camarines Sur, after the national launch of Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas, which took place simultaneously in all barangays across the country on Saturday, Jan. 6.

KALINISAN, which stands for Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan is an initiative of President Ferdinand ‘Bong Bong’ Marcos to unite various sectors and communities all over the country towards the attainment of a clean, healthy, and secure environment.

In Camarines Sur, Brgy. Sta. Elena was chosen as the showcase barangay. 

Headed by newly-elected Punong Barangay Alvin O. Bermejo, more or less 96 volunteers from the said barangay, personnel from Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Nabua LGU, Philippine Information Agency Camarines Sur Provincial Office, 4Ps members and other members of the community, actively participated in the clean- up campaign.

In his message, DILG-Camarines Sur Provincial Director Julius Cal-Ortiz emphasized that this nationwide initiative seeks to collect all generated solid waste materials, classify them into biodegradable and non-biodegradable and select recyclable materials for proper disposal.

“One of the directions given to us is to gather all the solid waste materials that we will generate and kikiluhin po natin ito para malaman natin kung ilan ang nakuha nating basura for this activity. Gagawin natin ito in a regular basis para maipagpatuloy natin ang ganitong programa. Pag malinis po ang ating kapaligiran, malinis din ang ating isip,” Ortiz added.

In his message, DILG-Camarines Sur Provincial Director Julius Cal-Ortiz emphasized that this nationwide initiative seeks to collect all generated solid waste materials, classify them into biodegradable and non-biodegradable and select recyclable materials for proper disposal.

“One of the directions given to us is to gather all the solid waste materials that we will generate and kikiluhin po natin ito para malaman natin kung ilan ang nakuha nating basura for this activity. Gagawin natin ito in a regular basis para maipagpatuloy natin ang ganitong programa. Pag malinis po ang ating kapaligiran, malinis din ang ating isip,” Ortiz added.

Barangay Sta. Elena, Baras newly-elected Punong Barangay Alvin O. Bermejo expressed his gratitude that they were chosen as showcase barangay.

Even before his assumption as head of the barangay, Bermejo said that he had already planned to prioritize beautification and cleanliness as integral components of his programs.

“Isa po ito sa mga plano ko dito sa barangay, ang beautification kasama na ang regular general cleaning kaya tuwang tuwa kami na dito sa Nabua, Camarines Sur, ang aming barangay ang napiling showcase barangay.  Lahat po ng sona sa aming barangay ay kasama nating maglilinis, pati na ang ibang organisasyon (Beautification and regular general cleaning are part of my priorities here in my barangay. We are delighted that here in Nabua, Camarines Sur, our barangay has been chosen as the showcase barangay. All residents in our barangay will participate in the cleaning, along with other organizations),” Bermejo added.

Nancy Ganalon-Bael, a 52 year old resident of barangay Sta. Elena said she is happy that President Ferdinand ‘Bong Bong’ Marcos initiated this campaign, stressing that everyone should really take part if they want a clean environment.

“Muya ako na si Presdidente Marcos naggibo nin paagi para sa kalinigan. Nagpapasalamat man kami sa barangay captain na magka -urusad kita sa paglinig ka ding barangay namu,” Bael said in vernacular.

("I am pleased with President Marcos because he came up with this initiative for cleanliness. We also express our gratitude to our barangay captain as he was able to enjoin us all to participate in this endeavor.)

22-year-old Keith Russel Jacob, newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of Barangay Sta. Elena  also expressed his gratitude to PBBM.

“Malaking tulong itong ginagawa nating paglilinis sa bawat bahay at na le- lessen yung mga basura na itinatapon. Mas maiiwasan yung mga sakuna, gaya ng baha, ito ang pinaka importante sa youth na maging responsible sa pag tapon ng basura. Be responsible, gampanan ang pagiging isang indibidwal. Thank you so much kay president BBM sa pag launch nitong kalinisan program,” Jacob added.

The Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Francisco Mella Jr., expressed his full support for the said activity.

He noted that DENR is actively involved in an initiative aimed at safeguarding, preserving, and effectively managing the environment and natural resources.

He said that after receiving the directive, he already engaged and mobilized citizens to actively support this clean-up initiative.

“Saro po ini sa mandato kan samuyang opisina, kaya nagpapasalamat kami na ang aktibidad na ini sarong dakulang tabang para ma accomplish mi ang kasuguan na ini (This is one of the mandates of our office. That's why we are grateful that this activity is a significant help for us to accomplish that directive." – to mobilize the citizenry to protect, conserve, and manage the country’s environment and natural resources,” Mella stated.

Ugnayan sa PIA is a weekly radio program aired every Friday over 105.5 Bicol Idol FM Naga from 10:00 to 11:00 am. The program is cross-posted live on the Facebook pages of PIA Camarines Sur and Bicol Idol FM-Naga."  (PIA5/ Camarines Sur)

cover photo credit: DILG Fb page