THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reported that more than 133 million kilograms of garbage have been collected nationwide through the KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) Program launched in January 2024.
The program mobilizes local governments and communities for regular clean-ups under a renewed spirit of self-help or bayanihan. 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.
A key component of the initiative, the Barangay at Kalinisan Day (BARKADA), mandates weekly clean-ups in every village, often held every Saturday.
From Jan.6, 2024, to May 3, 2025, over 22,000 barangays have cleaned around four million sites nationwide.
These activities involved about 500,000 participants weekly, including 166,000 barangay officials.
The program ensures proper waste disposal through segregation, transport to transfer stations, recycling in materials recovery facilities, and composting.
Initiatives like Palit Basura promote waste-to-goods exchange, while composted fertilizer supports community gardens.
These measures prevent plastics and other clog-causing trash from getting into waterways, thereby mitigating the risk of urban flooding.
KALINISAN is more than a clean-up drive. It is a disaster risk reduction, public health, and nation-building strategy—proving that clean communities are safer, healthier, and more resilient against floods, disease, and disorder, officials said.
