San Juan City mobilizes citywide clean-up drive vs dengue outbreak
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora
MANILA, Philippines – In response to the increasing number of dengue cases in Metro Manila, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led a citywide cleanup drive on March 1, 2025, at F. Roman Street, Barangay Balong Bato. Mayor Zamora has called for an intensified citywide cleanup to eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds and protect residents.
“Hinihikayat ko po ang bawat isa na tumulong sa paglinis ng ating barangay, ng ating kapaligiran, both public and private facilities ay kasama po. Mahalaga po ang proper waste segregation, waste disposal at yung pagpapanatili ng waterways, yung mga drainage, lalong-lalo na pagdating sa dengue. Alam nating yung dengue mosquitoes ay nabubuhay sa mga stagnant water so panatilihin nating malinis ito. Ito po ay effort ng lungsod ng San Juan as a whole.
DILG City Director of San Juan Adrian Lopez said in his message of support, “Sa ngalan ng DILG Field Office, buong puso po naming sinusuportahan ang proyektong ito na pinasimulan ni mayor. Ito po ay panawagan na gawing mas malinis, mas ligtas at malusog ang ating lungsod.”
MMDA Solid Waste Management Office Director Josias Syquimsiam, Jr. said, “Congratulations po sa programang ito. This citywide initiative is a testament to your unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and community participation in keeping San Juan clean, green, and resilient.”
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San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora
Meanwhile, DOH Asst. Regional Director Karen Fernandez stated, “Isang malaki pong karangalan na maging bahagi ng programang ito. Mahigit 10,000 libong kaso sa NCR ang naitala sa dengue. Wala na pong pinipiling panahon. Ang laki ng itinaas ng kaso sa NCR na may 206% increase na. Kaya natutuwa po ako na andito tayo ngayon at nagtitipon para sa Gawad Kalinisan. Kami po sa DOH ay naniniwala na kaya nating labanan ito. Ang paglilinis ay hindi lang gawain ng gobyerno, kung hindi ng bawat isa. Sa isang kamay na magwawalis, barangay na magkakaisa, dito magsisimula ang pagbabago.”
Article continues after this advertisementDENR Focal Person of San Juan Jed Montez also graced the launch and said, “Nagpapasalamat po ang DENR sa programang ito. Manalo man po o matalo ay panalo pa rin po ang lahat dahil hindi man manalo sa 200,000 ay nalinis po ninyo ang inyong kalikasan, ang inyong paligid. Investment na rin na maiwasan ang dengue.”
The simultaneous cleanup drive was carried out across all 21 barangays of San Juan City, with participation from city hall employees, barangay officials, and volunteers.
Gawad Kalinisan: A Year-Long Cleanliness Contest
To encourage sustainable cleanup efforts, Mayor Zamora has directed the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to launch a year-long Gawad Kalinisan contest, reinforcing the “Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas” program and the Barangay at Kalinisan Day (BARKADA) initiative of the DILG.
“Ito po ang ating search for the cleanest barangay of the City of San Juan at bahagi po ito ng ating layunin na pababain po ang bilang ng kaso ng dengue sa ating lungsod at ganun din syempre ang ating layunin na panatilihing malinis ang ating kapaligiran at ang atin pong gagawing contest ay inter-barangay. So all 21 barangays po ay kasama, ang mahihirang po na best barangay ay tatanggap po ng 200,000 pesos sa November,” stated the mayor.
The contest is open to all barangays and will focus on:
– Regular clean-up drives in public spaces, drainage systems, and barangay facilities
– Implementation of solid waste management practices
– Dengue prevention measures, such as larviciding and community education
– Community participation and engagement
– Proper maintenance of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Awards & Recognition:
The top-performing barangays will be recognized during the Environmental Awareness Month in November, with cash incentives:
🥇 1st Prize – ₱200,000
🥈 2nd Prize – ₱100,000
🥉 3rd Prize – ₱50,000
