11 trucks of trash hauled from papal motorcades

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has so far collected 11 truckloads of trash from Pope Francis’ motorcades since he arrived in Manila last Thursday, an official said yesterday.

The people who gathered to see the pontiff left behind plastic water bottles, food wrappers, polystyrene containers and barbecue sticks, according to Francis Martinez, who heads the MMDA’s Metro Parkway Clearing Group.

“Outside the Manila Cathedral alone, our street sweepers collected three truck loads of trash,” he said.

Martinez said 560 roadside clearing group members are deployed by the MMDA along the papal routes and event venues in Manila and Pasay as early as 4 a.m.

To help keep the streets clean, Martinez advised those who want to see the pope to use reusable food containers and bring plastic garbage bags.

Meanwhile, Martinez reminded those attending today’s mass at the Quirino Grandstand that plastic bottles are not allowed in the venue.

“Plastic bottles will be prohibited but I’m sure there will be attempts to bring to the event,” he said.

Martinez said the MMDA estimates that the mass would be attended by five million to six million people.