CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Lunes..Malinis (MaLu) Project,” a cleanliness and environmental awareness initiative was launched at the San Fernando Elementary School (SFES) on Feb. 7 to impact discipline and responsibility in waste management especially among the youth.
With emphasizes on the 3Cs—Collect, Clean, Contribute— MaLu specifically encourages students to collect and donate clean, used single-use plastic sachets.
“Elementary students will be taught the value of cleanliness and waste segregation within the school premises,” enthused SFES principal Marilen Calma.
A total of 1,125 students from Grades 4 to 6 participated in the program, which is a collaboration between EcoProtect Management Corp. (EPMC) and SFES.
City mayoralty aspirant former board member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, who attended the launch, emphasized the importance of early lessons in discipline. “Kapag pinagsama-sama natin lahat ang efforts natin [sa proper waste management], isa tayo sa magiging pinakamalinis na lugar dito sa Pampanga o dito sa Pilipinas,” she said, urging parents to encourage their children to participate in the project.
“Wala tayong hangad kung hindi mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating probinsiya, ng ating siyudad at ng ating buhay, para hindi tayo nagkakasakit, kasi ang pagkakasakit ay galing din sa hindi natin pagiging malinis,” Cayabyab added. EcoProtect president and CEO Alainne Tan expressed the company’s commitment to the initiative.
“We believe that even small actions to keep our surroundings clean can lead to important changes. Our work with SFES proves that when communities work together, meaningful improvements in the environment are possible,” she said. The MaLu Project aims to significantly reduce plastic waste by converting every 18 kilos of collected plastic sachets into a “Malu Trash Bin” for the school. This initiative not only helps in managing waste but also promotes recycling and reusing materials, thereby reducing the environmental footprint.
By replicating the program in other schools across Pampanga province, the project seeks to create a broader impact, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among young students and their communities.
The MaLu Project is set to influence more than just San Fernando, with similar projects planned for several towns in Pampanga and for cities across Bulacan and Bataan. This effort aims to build lasting habits and a shared sense of responsibility in each community.
“Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa Eco Protect Management sa pangunguna ng kanilang presidente, Ma’am Alainne Tan. Maraming maraming salamat po,” nakakatulong tayo sa ating pamayanan, pamahalaan at kapaligiran,” Calma said.
