A waste and pollution watchdog on Wednesday urged the devotees of the Black Nazarene to ensure a COVID-safe and trash-free feast on January 9.
EcoWaste Coalition called upon the devotees to respect the cancellation of the "Traslacion" procession and "pahalik" jointly agreed by the local government and church authorities to prevent the mass gathering of people amid the continuing threat of COVID-19 transmission.
"We join Mayor Isko Moreno and Monsignor Ding Coronel in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of the devotees by adopting precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in traditional events involving large numbers of worshippers," EcoWaste zero waste campaigner Jove Benosa said.
"As the Black Nazarene lives in the heart of the believer, we request the devotees to celebrate and renew their devotion to the Black Nazarene by praying at home or by attending masses in their local parishes instead of going to Quiapo to avoid large crowds," he added.
If devotees cannot resist going to Quiapo Church, EcoWaste requested them to strictly observe essential health protocols, including properly wearing face masks and shields, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and maintaining a safe physical distance with others.
"To avoid crowds of worshippers, devotees also have the option of attending novena masses in nearby Santa Cruz and San Sebastian Churches as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene and vicinity will be more congested," Benosa said.
EcoWaste further appealed to the devotees visiting these churches not to leave any litter behind.
"Let it not be said that devotees braved crowds and COVID-19 risks to express their undying faith but again left a trail of garbage behind," Benosa said.
Citing data from the Manila Public Information Office, EcoWaste said 68 truckloads of 330 tons of garbage were collected by the city’s Department of Public Services during the Traslacion in 2020.
After the Traslacion in 2019, some 99 truckloads of garbage or 387 tons were collected.
According to the yearly monitoring by EcoWaste Coalition's Basura Patrollers, plastic bags, cups, bottles and straws, polystyrene beverage and food containers, bamboo skewers, cigarette filters and lots of food wastes are among the most littered items during the feast of the Black Nazarene.
"This year, we may also find disposable face masks and shields littered in the streets of Quiapo and adjacent places if the public will not mind their trash," Benosa said.
"We therefore appeal to everyone to opt for reusable or washable fabric masks to avoid creating non-biodegradable and non-recyclable waste that will only exacerbate our nation's plastic pollution woes," he added.