BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – Governor Vilma Santos Recto is rallying her constituents in the entire province to support and sustain a weekly province-wide clean up drive to improve health and sanitation, the environment, and traffic flow and reduce disaster risks.

Batangas Provincial Information Officer Ginette Segismundo said Recto has instructed all local governments and stakeholders in all the cities and municipalities of this province to commit to the every-Friday clean-up drive.

Initiated last September 28, it is set to be formalized in a provincial ordinance being crafted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) holding a series of consultative forums, in coordination with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to gain inputs from both the government and private sectors.

“The outcome of the (Sept. 28) activity was very inspiring, noting that all stakeholders participated and cooperated fully in the actual clean-up,” Segismundo quoted the lady governor as saying.

“At this point, we want to make the clean-up a regular concerted effort that we eventually hope shall become part of our daily lives,” she said.

The provincial government, through Provincial Health Officer Rosvilinda Ozaeta, launched the campaign in the fight against dengue, which affected a significant number of Batangueños in recent months.