The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) collected over 133 million kilograms of garbage nationwide through the KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) Program since its launch in January 2024.

A key component, the Barangay at Kalinisan Day (BARKADA), mandates weekly clean-ups in every village every Saturday, according to a news release on Monday.

From Jan. 6, 2024 to May 3, 2025, over 22,000 communities have cleaned four million sites nationwide. The activities engage about 500,000 participants weekly, including 166,000 village officials.

KALINISAN mobilizes local governments and communities for regular cleanup. It addresses solid waste management while directly supporting flood prevention efforts by clearing waterways, drainage systems and public spaces of clog-causing debris and plastic wastes.

This is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a clean, safe, and disaster-resilient Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).

The program ensures proper waste disposal through segregation, transport to transfer stations, recycling in Materials Recovery Facilities and composting. Initiatives like waste-to-goods exchange and composted fertilizer for community gardens prevent plastics and other clog-prone waste from entering waterways, reducing the risk of urban flooding.

KALINISAN, more than a cleanup drive, is a disaster risk reduction, public health, and nation-building strategy, according to the DILG, proving that clean communities are safer, healthier, and more resilient against floods, disease, and disorder. (PNA)