By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — An environment advocacy group is calling on devotees of the Black Nazarene to participate in its campaign for a litter-free “Traslacion” in Manila this year.
Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner of the Ecological Waste Coalition of the Philippines (EcoWaste Coalition), on Monday called on all the devotees to be responsible for their trash and protect the environment from garbage.
“Hundreds of sweepers for sure will be assigned to pick up the trash left behind by the passionate believers and enterprising vendors. But why litter and expect other people to clean up after you? As stewards of the earth, let’s commit to a trash-less Traslacion,” he said as their group and other green advocates gathered in front of the Quiapo church in Manila.
EcoWaste is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups which aim to end wasting through the promotion of environmental justice and stewardship.
It led the pro-environment assembly together with Buklod Tao, Green Brigade Committee of Quiapo Church, and the Ecology Ministry of San Roque de Manila Parish.
After the procession of Black Nazarene replicas Monday morning, plastic spoons and forks, water bottles, paper cups and plates, plastic bags and diapers were left scattered from Quiapo Church to Quezon Boulevard.
Running priest and environment advocate Father Robert Reyes, who was also in the assembly, said they have been campaigning for a litter-free Traslacion since last week.
“Panawagan namin sa bawat deboto, magdala ng sarili nilang plastic bags para sa inyong mga basura pero bawal ang mga plastik na kulay itim sapagkat hindi makikita ang mga laman nito (We request every devotee, bring your own plastic bags for your own trash but black plastic [bags] are prohibited because their contents can’t be seen),” he said.
Reyes also encouraged the devotees to deepen their devotion praying inside the churches and work hard to transform the environment “into a green, clean, garbage-free and holy places of prayer and contemplation”.
Citing figures from the Manila City government, Alejandre said around 385 tons of mixed garbage were collected from last year’s Traslacion.
The figure is 11 percent higher than the 341 tons collected during the 2017 celebration. All the trash was collected from Rizal Park and the entire six-kilometer route of the procession.
