ANTI-WASTE organization Ecowaste Coalition on Thursday chided the “widespread littering” during the yearly Traslacion, or the procession of the Nazareno image from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church.
“While the authorities imposed a strict ban on guns and liquor to ensure peace and order, we could not help but wonder why the ban on littering — an environmental offense explicitly prohibited in national and local laws — was evidently not enforced during the conduct of the Traslacion,” said Ecowaste campaigner Ochie Tolentino in a statement.
The group said that after the festivities, some streets in Quiapo were found teeming with trash, mostly used empty water bottles and polystyrene food containers.
BACK HOME After almost 21 hours, the carriage carrying the statue of The Black Nazarene enters the Quiapo Church at 1:26 a.m., Jan. 10, 2025. Over a million Nazarene devotees participated in the annual Traslacion which started at the Quirino Grandstand on Jan. 9. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
Devotees also left a carpet of garbage at the Luneta, which included improvised sleeping mats, leftover food, urine-filled bottles and soiled diapers, it added.
“It is very disheartening to witness the unrestricted littering in a faith-oriented event amid the observance of the Zero Waste Month this January and as the 25th anniversary of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, on January 26 approaches,” she added.
Volunteers joined the workers from the Department of Public Services of Manila, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and National Parks Development Committee in cleaning up the litter.
The group said littering can contaminate the soil, air and water with solid and chemical pollutants that can affect living organisms in far-flung places like rivers and oceans.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil lauded the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Traslacion that drew 7.4 million people.
The PNP, in coordination with other government agencies, deployed 14,474 personnel to ensure safety during the occasion.
“The successful and peaceful conduct of Traslacion 2025 reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the PNP. They endured long hours and challenging conditions to protect the millions of devotees attending this sacred event,” Marbil said on Friday.
The Philippine Red Cross reported 1,300 minor injuries among the participants of the annual ritual.
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