Pray without littering, devotees asked

An environmental group has appealed to all Black Nazarene devotees to pick up after themselves during the annual procession from Rizal Park to the Quiapo Church Monday.

In particular, EcoWaste Coalition called on food vendors to put sacks near their stalls to encourage buyers to dispose of their trash

properly.

“We advise all food and beverage vendors to take full responsibility for their discards and not to pass on the garbage burden to eco-aides and volunteers,” said Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste Coalition.

He added that vendors could also prepare pails for food leftovers, which they could feed to their animals.

At the same time, he called on people to refrain from using Styrofoam and other plastic food containers because on previous occasions, most of the trash collected consisted of disposable food containers.

On New Year’s Day, the Manila City Department of Public Services collected 82.5 cubic meters of trash from the Plaza Miranda-Quiapo area, up from the usual 58 cubic meters netted on ordinary days.

“The profession of our faith and devotion should ease, not worsen, the waste and sanitation conditions in Quiapo district. As the ancient saying goes, cleanliness is next to Godliness,” Alvarez said.