File photo courtesy of EcoWaste Coalition
MANILA, Philippines — Devotees of the Black Nazarene were reminded on Thursday to keep the Traslación free from trash as the local government of Manila vows to implement its anti-littering ordinance.
“Anti-littering ordinance, ’wag kayo basta basta magtatapon ng basura, baka makalawit din namin kayo, i-implement pa din namin ‘yung batas ng kalinisan,” Manila mayor Isko Moreno said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
(Anti-littering ordinance, don’t just litter garbage anywhere. We might catch you. We will keep on implementing the law on cleanliness.)
During last year’s procession, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it collected 43 truckloads of garbage.
Among the littered items were single-use plastic bags, bottles, cups and plates, polystyrene food containers, cigarette butts, and bamboo skewers.
This pushed environment advocates to appeal to the Black Nazarene’s devotees to practice their faith without compromising waste prevention.
Environment group EcoWaste Coalition earlier asked devotees to cut down on trash that “disrespects” the venerated image of the Black Nazarene.
Rector of the Quiapo Church Monsignor Hernando Coronel also urged devotees to make environment preservation part of their responsibility as followers of the Black Nazarene.
Authorities expect that more than six million devotees will participate in the Catholic religious procession from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.