MALABON City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval officiated the mass wedding of nearly 100 couples during the “Kasalang Bayan 2026” held over the weekend, an event that celebrated not only love and commitment but also environmental responsibility.
Marking the third mass wedding held under her administration, Sandoval said it was also part of the city government’s continuing advocacy for sustainability.
“As I congratulate the newlyweds, I have urged them to continuously support the programs of the local government, particularly those that concern the environment,” Sandoval told The Manila Times.
“If we have a clean and green environment and surroundings, for sure, we would always have a comfortable and healthy life,” she said.
The event, held over the weekend at the Malabon Sports Complex, was spearheaded by the city’s Civil Registry Department, which carried the theme of a garden wedding, reflecting the city government and the couples’ shared concern for the environment, City Administrator Alex Rosete said.
In line with the city’s drive for environmental conservation and proper waste segregation, each participating couple brought one sack of used PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles during the event’s rehearsal as a symbol of their involvement in the initiative.
In recognition of their contribution, the city government, through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), provided each couple with a recycled trash bin to encourage responsible waste management in their households.
To ease the financial burden on the couples, the city government shouldered all related expenses, including Philippine Statistics Authority documents, marriage license application fees, and marriage contract registration fees, Rosete said.
The newlyweds received financial assistance and a sack of rice as part of the city’s support for them as they begin a new life as families, the top city officials said.
