THE dense crowd that participated in this year’s annual Traslacion in Manila left heaps of garbage littered on the streets.
SMNI News captured trucks loaded with accumulated trash on several streets in Manila City.
Some barricades and railings in Quiapo were also damaged by the crowd.
The local government unit of Manila said they collected 468 metric tons of garbage from the start of the activity on January 6 until the day of the procession on January 10.
Based on their data, this is 200 metric tons more compared to the trash collected during the 2023 Traslacion.
According to the local government, the increase in trash volume is attributed to the actual Traslacion, which spanned from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church and was attended by over 6 million people.
“This increase could be attributed to the presence of actual Traslacion which started from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church and was attended by more or less 6.5 million devotees,” Manila LGU, Statement.
MMDA collects nearly 90 tons of trash after Traslacion 2024
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said collected almost 90 tons of trash from Manila, Pasay, Caloocan, Ortigas, and Nagtahan West.
EcoWaste Coalition notes the garbage left by participants of Traslacion 2024
The EcoWaste Coalition also noted the mountain of trash left by Catholic participants in the Traslacion.
Even in a half-hectare area next to Quirino Grandstand, they gathered more than 40 sacks of trash containing bottles, plastic bags, styro-foam, cigarette butts, and more.
“When the people left around 4:15 pm, what remained was a wave of garbage. In our designated area alone, we, EcoWaste, and our partners, around 50 people, collected heaps of trash. Just for the PET bottles, and for recyclables, we filled 40 large sacks,” according to Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
If in previous years, they collected 7 tons of trash after Traslacion, the EcoWaste Coalition suggests that this year’s amount may be double, and emphasizes the lack of respect shown by Traslacion participants in littering.
“Personally, if they truly have faith in the Black Nazarene, it should reflect in our faith and trust in Him,” Tolentino added.
EcoWaste Coalition and the MMDA are set to release data on the estimated amount of collected trash.
Meanwhile, the cleaning efforts by Manila workers in front of Quiapo Church continue.
