A group of men carrying a nipa hut or bahay kubo has been the cultural icon that represents the Filipino value of Bayanihan. In the earlier years when a family wanted to move to another place, they would ask their neighbors to help carry their house, which was then made from light materials, to the new location.

Thus, bayanihan also means helping each other and working together in a “bayan” or community to achieve a common goal.

In today’s world of concrete and disaster-ready houses, the Bayanihan spirit is still alive, especially in a barangay in Albay hailed as the cleanest and greenest in the province for three consecutive years.

Barangay Dap-Dap is the venue showcased by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 5 for the regional launching of the Kalinisan (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) sa Bagong Pilipinas Program.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Residents, barangays officials and representatives of various government agencies cleaned up the garbage along the Macabalo River in  Barangay Dap-Dap in Legazpi City, Albay as the showcased venue for the regional launching of the Kalinisan (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) sa Bagong Pilipinas Program in the Bicol region. (Photos from  Barangay Dap-dap Facebook page)

“We chose this barangay as the regional launching site because of their notable unity and cooperation. For two years, Dap-dap has been a passer of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG). This is proof that good governance is happening here,” DILG Bicol Atty. Arnaldo Escober Jr. said during the program.

For seven consecutive years since 2017, Dap-dap has been declared as the best-practicing barangay of the ecological waste management program of the city government.

Barangay Captain Glen Barcelon said bayanihan is the key to these milestones.

“Bayanihan is really important. I am very lucky that every time we are implementing programs, I am fully supported by my barangay council down to the purok officials and residents,” he said.

Barcelon welcomed the challenge to sustain and step up their community’s efforts to inspire and encourage other barangays to support the KALINISAN program.

“Through bayanihan, I am confident that we can sustain the KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas program in our barangay. Cleanliness has been our way of life. It all comes from the heart, the moment you like what you do, everything will just follow,” he said.

“It is also through Bayanihan that we were able to successfully host the program launching despite the limited preparation time. I am very happy that my fellow barangay officials and residents participated and volunteered in the program and the clean-up drive although we have nothing to give them,” Barcelon added.

Ma. Maxine Castillo, Sanggunian Kabataang chair, affirmed the support of the youth in the cleanliness programs of their barangay.

“In line with cleanliness, we have the Natad nin Kabataan program, wherein the youth in our barangay join the clean-up drive every Saturday. We also clean and plant fruits and vegetables that can be our added source of food, she said.

To further sustain the program, Escober said the DILG will be creating a recognition system for quarterly awarding and recognition of the efforts of barangays and LGUs.

“We are calling on barangay officials to implement programs and allot funding for cleanliness. We will recognize barangays and LGUs for their initiatives on environmental protection,” he said.

The youth, led by the barangay sangguniang kabataan officials, lend their helping hands in the KALINISAN program clean-up drive. Through their Natad nin Kabataan Program, they encouraged their fellow youth to plant vegetables and fruits as added source of food. (Photos from  Barangay Dap-dap Facebook page)

As reported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, at least 2, 242 kilograms of wastes were collected in the simultaneous clean-up drive in the Bicol region. (PIA5/Albay)