A garbage bin overflows with mixed trash thrown by visitors of the popular Grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes in Bulacan. (photo: EcoWaste Coalition)

Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has expressed concern over the huge trail of garbage left in some of the roads leading to, and even right at the pilgrimage sites, by the throngs of visitors for the traditional Holy Week Visita Iglesia.

While some of the religious sites were clean after the visits, Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition, said that littering appears to be part of the Visita Iglesia tradition itself following the observations they made at some of the religious shrines.

“We laud the faithful for maintaining the cleanliness of many of our shrines and churches despite the throngs of Holy Week visitors by not dropping trash anywhere. It’s litter-free or darn close in most cases, and it’s a joy to see such places of prayer and worship clean,” said Tolentino.

“On the other hand, we are saddened by the persistent littering observed in some pilgrimage sites as if such an inconsiderate and disrespectful act has now become a tradition in itself,” added.

For instance, the group said that while the surroundings of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Manila City) and the Bahay ng Mahal na Señor ng Bangkulasi (Navotas City) were observed to be generally clean on Maundy Thursday, these popular sites were found littered with assorted trash the following day, Good Friday.

It said litter peppered the streets of Quiapo, in particular, following the procession of the revered image of the Black Nazarene.

The same observation was made along the Ortigas Avenue Extension from Pasig City to Taytay, Rizal, and on the streets leading to the newly-proclaimed International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

Some visitors were also observed to have left empty plastic water bottles inside the Antipolo Cathedral.

“Some visitors who spent the night at the church patio and on the sidewalks after a grueling walk simply abandoned their improvised sleeping materials such as corrugated boxes and used papers for others to pick up,” the group said.

The patio of ANtipolo Cathedral is littered with improvised sleeping materials left by some of those who joined the "Alay Lakad'. (photo: EcoWaste Coalition)

In Marilao, Bulacan, some bags of trash were even found hanging on trees near the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy—the same trees were pilgrims sought refuge from the scorching heat of the sun.

Rampant littering was also observed at the Grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan from the sprawling lawns at the entrance to the hills where the life-sized Stations of the Cross are located.

At the picnic area and elsewhere, big blue bins were found brimming with trash, mostly single-use plastics, which the personnel had to frequently empty.

The EcoWaste Coalition said the same problem was observed over the years.

Squeaky-clean

On the other hand, Tolentino cited some local government units (LGUs) and church volunteers for keeping some of the religious shrines it visited impressively clean on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

They are the Caloocan Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Grace; Cubao Diocesan Shrines of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Manila Archdiocesan Shrines of the Blessed Sacrament, Espiritu Santo, Sacred Heart, San Jose de Trozo, Our Lady of the Abandoned, Our Lady of Guidance, and the Our Lady of Peñafrancia,

The Diocesan Shrines of the Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Pillar, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, and the Our Lady of Candelaria—all under the Diocese of Imus were also found to be litter-free.

Also found generally clean were the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child (Cebu City), National Shrine of the Our Lady of La Sallete (Silang, Cavite), Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Manila City), Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Makati City), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Tagaytay City), and Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (Quezon City).

“Among the churches visited, the Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Grace in Caloocan City stands out for implementing a ban on single-use plastics within the church compound, including plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic cups and straws and polystyrene food containers,” EcoWaste Coalition said in a statement.

Constant reminder

Tolentino said both the EcoWaste and the Church will continue to remind the faithful about the shared responsibility on cleanliness.
“Together with the Church, we will continue to remind the faithful about our shared responsibility to care for Mother Earth and uphold our human right to a clean and healthy environment in everything that we do, especially in our faith life --- hope springs eternal,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, the group has expressed gratitude to what it described as a battalion of waste and sanitation workers, including members of the informal waste sector, for their contributions in keeping the environment clean and safe during the Holy Week.

The group said these volunteers picked up garbage and diverted recyclable materials away from landfills and other disposal facilities.