MANILA -- The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was able to collect over 2.6 million kilograms of trash from the launching of the government’s Kalinga at Inisyatiba Para Sa Malinis na Bayan (KALINISAN) program, which was participated by over 9,000 barangays nationwide.

A national status report of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) released late Sunday showed the KALINISAN program had collected 2,646,948 kilograms of trash from 9,189 participating barangays in the country.

The DILG report also stated that 580,000 individuals participated in the clean-up drive along with the 109,939 local officials.

Of the 580,000 individuals, at least 103,249 joined the program from Cagayan Valley; 103,044 from Central Luzon; 117,161 from Calabarzon; 59,630 from Mimaropa; 29,814 from Central Visayas; 27,287 from Zamboanga Peninsula; 63,996 from Northern Mindanao; and 8,060 from SOCCSKSARGEN.

At least 39,109 individuals have also participated in the cleanup drive from the National Capital Region (NCR) and 28,650 from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said they will conduct quarterly recognition of local government units (LGUs) that will efficiently implement the KALINISAN program of President Marcos to ensure their participation in the government’s initiative.

He added the program also aims to showcase the spirit of volunteerism while ensuring safe and healthy communities to live in. Abalos urged local chief executives to pass their respective ordinances that would require community service for individuals who will be caught littering.

The DILG launched the KALINISAN program on Saturday through a national simultaneous clean-up drive at the Baseco Compound in Manila, which coincides with the observance of the annual Community Development Day. (PND)