Garbage left in Quiapo during the conduct of this year’s Traslacion. (Photo from EcoWaste Coalition)
Updated on January 10, 2023 at 1:54 p.m.
MANILA, Philippines — A day after the observance of this year’s Traslacion or the Feast of the Black Nazarene, authorities have collected 158 truckloads of garbage from areas where devotees converged, the local government unit (LGU) of Manila said on Wednesday.
Manila City’s Department of Public Service (DPS) report revealed that collectors were able to gather 468 metric tons of garbage from January 6 to 10.
“A total of 158 truckloads and a volume of 468 metric tons was collected for the year 2024. This increase could be attributed to the presence of actual Traslacion, which started from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church and was attended by more or less six million devotees of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno,” the Manila LGU said in a statement.
For January 9 alone, Manila City spokesperson Princess Abante earlier reported that 128 metric tons of trash were collected by 46 garbage trucks from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park down to the roads leading to Quiapo Church.
The figure in 2024 is much higher than the ones recorded in previous years since the traditional observance of Traslacion was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2023, 99 truckloads of garbage were collected after the activity; 43 truckloads in 2022; 57 truckloads in 2021; and 88 in 2020.
LOOK: Trash covered Quezon Blvd over an hour after the Black Nazarene returned at Quiapo Church.
This, despite pleas from environmental groups and church officials to keep the Traslacion garbage-free. | @inquirerdotnet #Nazareno2024 #NazarenoINQ pic.twitter.com/Wcz7jY83vz
— Zeus Legaspi (@ZeusLegaspiINQ) January 9, 2024
Based on the monitoring conducted by the environmental group EcoWaste Coalition, the parade grounds and areas near Quirino Grandstand were left littered with food containers, polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and single-use plastic, among others.
According to the latest data from the Quiapo Church, 6,113,598 devotees were recorded to have joined the peak of the feast around 7:44 p.m. on Tuesday.