DILG Pampanga takes part in CSF’s clean up day

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Heeding once again the call of the City Government of San Fernando to protect and preserve the environment, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Pampanga personnel turned up early to support the city-wide clean up day on February 1.

Clad in orange shirts and ready to spring into action, the team joined other volunteers from both the public and private sectors who gathered in front of the city hall for a short program. Before setting out to their assigned cleaning areas, volunteers were reminded to segregate collected waste into three containers for biodegradable (e.g. cigarette butts, grass, and leaves), residual (e.g. sachets, styrofoam, plastic bags) and recyclable (paper, plastic and glass containers) materials.

Armed with brooms, dustpans and sacks, DILG Pampanga personnel swept the streets of the Capitol Compound including drainage areas, vacant lots and the surrounding vicinity of the DILG provincial office.

Aside from DILG Pampanga, the activity was supported by and participated in by volunteers from various public and private institutions, the Muslim community, Knights of the Columbus (Sta. Lucia Council 8763), Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, City of San Fernando Water District, SM City San Fernando Downtown, as well as teachers and students from the San Fernando Elementary School.

The clean up drive, which emanates from City Ordinance 2006-010 declaring the first week of February as clean up day, has become an annual tradition for Fernandinos and is an integral part of the Kaganapan 2018 whichcelebrates the cityhood charter anniversary of San Fernando.

Mayor Edwin Santiago said the city government aims to be known as a model of countryside development – a city that is smart, sustainable, green and livable. However, he stressed that economic prosperity cannot be achieved without putting equal work in preserving the environment.

“We want to be prosperous and progressive but we should also not forget our environment. There are two reasons why our ancestors chose San Fernando and why it became the center (of Pampanga. First is our rich culture and second, is its strategic location straddling waterways which provide livelihood to the community. And it is for this (last) reason that we should ensure that our waterways are clean and cleared dahil ang daluyan po ng tubig ay ating kayamanan,” said Santiago.

He thanked everyone for their unwavering commitment and in sharing the city’s advocacy on environmental sustainability.— DILG Pampanga