MANILA, Philippines?With the annual celebration of Black Nazarene just three days away, an environment group exhorted the image?s faithful to keep the streets of Quiapo clean.

In a statement Tuesday, the EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, said the streets of historic Quiapo could be carpeted again with trash during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

?We hope that the large-scale trash problem that tainted the celebration last year will not happen again. Our pious devotion to the Black Nazarene merits no less than a clean and safe environment for all,? said Manny Calonzo, president of the EcoWaste Coalition.

Citing information from Manila?s Department of Public Service, the EcoWaste Coalition said that some 19 trucks were required last year to clear affected streets, especially in Quiapo, of fiesta trash estimated at 124 tons.

The most littered items during the 2009 feast were bamboo sticks, cigarette butts, plastic bottles and drinking cups, plastic bags, Styrofoam containers and food leftovers.

?The wastefulness of the Quiapo fiesta dishonors the Black Nazarene to whom many Filipinos come begging for deliverance and healing, especially from poverty and ailments that could have been aggravated by an unhealthy environment,? Calonzo said.

He added: ?We trust that the clergy and the laity, led by the Hijos del Señor Nazareno, will exercise responsible stewardship over the environment as the great feast is observed.?

To remind the devotees to honor and glorify the Black Nazarene in a clean and safe manner, the EcoWaste Coalition will hang yellow and maroon banners in some of the communities surrounding the Quiapo Church in collaboration with barangay officials in the area.

The group?s banners contain the words: ?Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, dinarangal ka namin sa pistang malinis at ligtas (Our Father Jesus of Nazarene, we honor you with a clean and safe fiesta)," and ?Pistang malinis at ligtas, handog natin sa Mahal na Poong Nazareno (A clean and safe fiesta, we offer to our beloved Holy Nazarene)."

The group will also mobilize volunteers for the Jan. 9 post-procession cleanup at the Plaza Miranda in front of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

During this year?s feast, now on its 403rd year, the Black Nazarene will be brought to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta this Friday for an overnight vigil. A procession of the gilded carriage bearing the icon will commence from there on Saturday morning to Quiapo Church.

To keep the Quiapo fiesta litter-free, the EcoWaste Coalition is appealing to every chapter of Hijos del Señor Nazareno to assign a team to promote and ensure devotees? cooperation for an eco-friendly devotion.

Also, the EcoWaste Coalition is appealing to the office of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to deploy more waste and sanitation workers along the processional route and also to provide more portable toilets for the convenience of the devotees and other fiesta visitors.

The group also advised devotees; to refrain from smoking to avoid littering cigarette butts; dispose of chewing gum properly; avoid spitting on walls, streets and sidewalks; avoid urinating on the street; and return used food and beverage containers to vendors for proper disposal

Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the first law signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, explicitly bans littering. Under the law, the offense is punishable by a fine of P300 to P1,000 or up to 15 days of community service or both.