SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – Cleanup drives in key areas across La Union have reinforced environmental protection and strengthened community engagement, as public and private stakeholders unite for the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Barangay at Kalinisan Day (BARKADA) Project.
The latest cleanup effort was conducted in Barangay Leones East, Tubao, La Union, on Feb. 6, aiming to promote community discipline and sustainability through active participation.
DILG-La Union Local Government Operations Officer V Hedrich Calderon emphasized the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ in the program, highlighting how it fosters unity and collective effort while instilling discipline in participants as they carry out cleanup activities.
“Through this initiative, we embody the true essence of ‘bayanihan’—working together as one community while upholding discipline and responsibility in keeping our surroundings clean,” he said.
The cleanup drives conducted across the Ilocos Region are in adherence to the guidelines set forth in DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-133.
Cleaning, clearing, and eliminating waste
The Feb. 6 mobilization effort focused on eradicating breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests, clearing waterways, and cleaning streets and other public spaces.
Around 102 participants, both public and private, attended the cleanup drive, including local officials and residents from Brgy. Leones Norte, and representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Provincial Government of La Union.
A total of 92.3 kilograms of waste was collected and disposed of following environmental management protocols.
Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative raises public awareness and strengthens community ties.
Lolita Garcia, barangay captain of Leones East, shared that taking part in the cleanup drive was a rewarding experience, emphasizing how the initiative fosters a strong sense of cooperation and unity among community members.
“Agyamanak iti DILG ken dagiti nadumaduma a partners iti iyuumayda ditoy ken iti panagbalinda a posible daytoy nga aktibidad,” she said.
(I am thankful to the DILG and the different partners for coming here and for making this activity possible.)
Henry Isaac Garcia, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson of Brgy. Leones Norte took the lead in inspiring participants to commit to ongoing cleanup efforts in and around the barangay’s public spaces, extending beyond this cleanup drive.
“Ako ay aktibong magiging kaagapay ng ating barangay… para sa Bagong Pilipinas at para sa bagong henerasyon (I will actively support our barangay… for the New Philippines and for the new generation),” Garcia declared, as he guided the participants in taking a solemn pledge to continue their collective responsibility for a cleaner, greener community.
A nationwide cleanup strategy
This activity supports the broader KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) sa Bagong Pilipinas Program of the government, which was launched nationwide on Jan. 6, 2024, supported by an initial cleanup drive in San Fernando City, La Union’s coastal areas.
Similar initiatives were successfully executed throughout the previous year in various municipalities, including Caba on Feb. 10, Balaoan on May 11, Santo Tomas on Aug. 20, Luna on Aug. 30, Bagulin on Oct. 15, and Bangar on Dec. 20, underscoring the need for sustained environmental efforts to achieve lasting results.
Further expanding the program’s reach, another cleanup drive is set for Feb. 11 in Barangay Alipang, Rosario, La Union.
Dates for future cleanups in La Union under the program are being coordinated in line with weekly cleanup drives in other provinces of the Ilocos Region.
Through these initiatives, the government continues to foster strong public-private partnerships in environmental protection, paving the way for more resilient and healthier communities in La Union. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
