On January 23, employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) will render a one hour clean-up activity in the Manila Bay area as part of their civic duties as public servants and in support to the national government’s goal of rehabilitating the country’s natural resources.

The clean-up is one of activities lined-up for the week-long celebration of the agency’s 68th anniversary from January 21-25 with the theme, “DSWD:Katuwang sa Pagbabago.”

“We must all be ‘Stewards of the Environment.’ It is not just the responsibility of DENR to take care of our environment. All of us must participate and have ownership in the responsible use and protection of our natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. On the 68th Anniversary of DSWD, we manifest our support to help rehabilitate Manila Bay through a meaningful clean-up activity together with the dedicated men and women of the Department. We can only be successful if all of us take action to save Manila Bay,” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said.

For her part, Assistant Secretary Rhea B. Peñaflor, Chairperson of the 68th DSWD Anniversary Committee, said that the clean- up  is anchored on the Department’s theme of bringing positive change to society.

“Manila Bay is not our thrash can. There is a need to pursue change in terms of how we take care of our  environment.   Lumalakas ang mga bagyong pumapasok sa bansa dahil sa climate change kaya dapat magtulong-tulong ang lahat para pangalagaan ang ating kapaligiran. There is a long term domino effect when we do not take care of our environment. Not caring for the environment poses danger to our lives and limbs.  We have to own this problem and let us start with cleaning our Manila Bay, ” Asec. Peñaflor said.

The Assistant Secretary added that being at the forefront of disaster response, the Department is often a witness to the destructions brought about by calamities.  She said that taking care of the environment must be part of the disaster preparedness objectives of all agencies.

The employees who will join the activity will be at the Manila Bay area at 5:00 am and will proceed to clean the shoreline for an hour.

Apart from the clean-up, DSWD will also hold other activities for the anniversary celebration such as bloodletting; sporstfest including the fitness competition, “The Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition”; DSWD Got Talent; Loyalty Awards; and, the Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan (PANATA) Awards.  ###