Environment group decries Undas littering

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition decried yesterday the truckloads of trash left in cemeteries in Metro Manila during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The group’s garbage patrollers were sent to 18 public and private cemeteries in Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Parañaque, Pasay, San Juan, Taguig, Quezon City and Pateros as well as in Angono in Rizal and Dasmariñas City in Cavite.

The ban on littering is the most ignored provision of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, according to Christina Vergara, zero waste campaigner of EcoWaste.

“It is as if the law does not matter at all during Undas,” she said.

“Instead of just leaving flowers, the visitors left their trash near the graves of their dead. Littering desecrates the cemeteries and disrespects the dead.”

EcoWaste coordinator Aileen Lucero said cemeteries with minimal waste included the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anne Cemetery in Taguig; Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque; Paradise Cemetery in Mandaluyong; San Felipe Neri Catholic Cemetery in Mandaluyong, and the San Juan City Cemetery.

Lucero said the recipients of this year’s “Basurapamore” award were the Bagbag public cemetery in Quezon City; Manila Memorial Park-Dasmariñas; Manila Memorial Park-Holy Cross; Manila Memorial Park-Parañaque, and the Manila North Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery.