COTABATO CITY — The City Government of Cotabato, led by Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce “ Matabalao, together with City Vice Mayor Sultan Johair Madag and members of the 18th Sangguniang Panlungsod, officially opened the Global Handwashing Day 2025 celebration at Cotabato City Central Pilot School (CCCPS).

The event was organized by the City Health Office, headed by Dr. Harris Ali, as part of the city’s continuing efforts to promote proper hygiene and prevent communicable diseases through regular handwashing practices.

As part of the celebration, students were recognized and awarded for their outstanding performances in poetry recitation and comic strip-making contests, both centered on this year’s theme, “Be a Handwashing Hero.”

In his message, Mayor Bruce Matabalao reminded everyone of the importance of maintaining good hygiene habits.

“We should always make it a habit to wash our hands before and after eating, and to use alcohol or hand sanitizer to keep them clean. By doing so, we can help prevent the spread of common illnesses caused by unclean hands,”