BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of  the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera (DILG – CAR),  with the support of the Baguio City government, regional line agencies and officials of Barangay South Sanitary Camp,  successfully launched the KALINISAN (Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan) Program on  Saturday (January 6).

The launching, which coincided with  the observance of the National Community Development Day, started with a simple program,  followed by a community clean – up drive  participated by  local officials, government employees, 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries, personnel from the Baguio City Police Office and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the community.
 
DILG - CAR Assistant Regional Director Ruperto Maribbay Jr., thanked all those that  joined in the  activity, and called  for continuing unified action in sustaining the program.

The KALINISAN Program is a nationwide convergence initiative of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to consolidate all efforts of the government to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment for all by capacitating LGUs and enabling community participation  anchored on the tradition of Bayanihan.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, in his message, enjoined  officials and residents of the   city’s  barangays to sustain such initiative that will ensure a safe and clean environment for the Baguio people and its visitors.
During the launching program, Department of Social Welfare and Development OIC Regional Director Enrique Gascon, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Regional Director Benjamin Ventura and Philippine Information Agency Regional Head Helen Tibaldo   affirmed their respective support to the sustainability of the KALINISAN Program.

“Ito ay isang pagpapakita ng pagkaka-isa ng lahat ng ahensiya para sa inisyatibang ito, na KALINISAN program. Kami sa DSWD ay nakiki-isa sa inisyatibong ito” (This shows the unity of government agencies for the KALINISAN program, and we,  at the DSWD,  support this initiative), Gascon said.

He also assured  that  they will  involve  other beneficiaries of  DSWD programs such as the Cash for Work and Food for Work   to the  KALINISAN program  to  help ensure its  sustainability.

On the part of DENR, this convergence is a welcome initiative.  In line with our vision of enjoying our natural resources and a clean and healthy environment, we are humbled and honored to be part of this, Ventura said.

 In our new direction, there is this trans-disciplinary approach, to resilience and environment sustainability, through multi-stakeholders engagement. We pledge our all-out support for this Kalinisan, he added.

Tibaldo  also assured  support to this government initiative saying,   “The Philippine Information Agency, under the Presidential Communications Office, we stand in solidarity, committing all our communication platforms for robust information support to the program. Our commitment also goes beyond the information support, we assure you our participation in all of the activities of the Kalinisan program”, Tibaldo said. 

Pres. Marcos, through Proclamation No. 316, declared the first week of January as Community Development Week and January 6 of every year, as Community Development Day.(JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)