Ilaw ng Tahanan in Tawi-Tawi

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from the local government doing its part to maintain the cleanliness in the area, the ordinary housewives of Tawi-Tawi and their families have all pitched in to keep the whole 11 municipalities of Tawi-Tawi spic and span. Known as “Ilaw ng Tahanan,” the program aims not only to equip its members with the necessary tool for clean-up but to make them aware of the importance of everyday clean living. Its members not only include the ordinary housewives but widows and indigent families as well. “I would like to concentrate on the cleanliness because it’s useless to promote the place when the sanitation is not good,” says Tourism Council head Juana Sahali, who spearheads the project and also the wife of Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali. “Through this project, I am expecting that those involved will not only help themselves but the whole community also.” The program includes visits to some provinces in the country which have been successful in their environmental brigade, and consequently learn from them and to organize a group of men for coastal clean-up. There are many visitors who come to Tawi-Tawi and we hope that when this sanitation project is in full drive, many more people would be able to just relax here and enjoy the place,” she says. “Tawi-Tawi is slowly gaining its glory as Philippines’ Tourism and Cultural destination. Our family is united for this cause,” said Vice-Gov. Ruby-Sahali Tan.