I PASSED by Kalaw Avenue in Manila the other night and noticed the sidewalks are littered with so much garbage.

The major thoroughfare is just a few meters away from Luneta – a major tourist spot—and the Manila City Hall – the address of the City Mayor.

Seeing the blight in the area is very saddening. I could only hope the city government has a daily clean-up program that makes the avenue cleaner at daytime.

At any rate, cleaning up the city is also the responsibility of Manila residents. They should help the city government in this endeavor.

Just recently, President Ferdinand R,. Marcos Jr. encouraged mayors to engage the public as they cannot address challenges alone.

That is why the national government has adopted a whole-of-government approach, he said. Later, the government expanded the strategy into a whole-of-society approach, involving the private sector, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society.

Interestingly, the President highlighted the efforts under the Kalinga at Inisyatiba Para sa Malinis na Bayan, or KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas Program.

Last year, 22,200 barangays participated in regular cleanup activities, demonstrating a collaborative effort to create a healthier and more dignified nation.

That is definitely good news.

Meanwhile, local chief executives should assess their disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies to handle increasingly severe weather disturbances caused by climate change, according to the President.

“Kailangan ay gagawin natin ang lahat upang mabigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga constituent dito sa mga bagong pangyayari,” President Marcos said during the 2025 League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly Wednesday at the Manila Hotel.

“Hindi naman natin masasabi na iyong nakaraan na anim na bagyo na dumaan sa Pilipinas sa 23 araw ay hindi natin masasabi na hindi mauulit ‘yan kaya’t kailangan na natin paghandaan,” he said.

Everyone must analyze the problem, learn from the country’s past disaster experiences, and adjust the response and mitigation measures, he said.

Typhoons are now more frequent and devastating, making areas that previously did not experience flooding and landslides vulnerable, he explained.

“Kailangan na natin tingnan ano ang naging problema sa mga nakaraan dahil ang mga nangyayari, ang panahon ngayon, ang weather ngayon ay hindi na natin maasahan ‘yung mga dating ginagawa natin,” the President said.

“Kailangan natin tanggapin na ang weather ngayon ay hindi kagaya ng panahon (noon)– ang mga bagyo ngayon hindi kagaya ng bagyo noon. Sila ay mas malakas at mas madalas,” he added.

You are right Mr. President.

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AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Fetalino Jr.