Group wants trash-free Nazarene feast

MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic faithful should express their devotion by not throwing garbage as they observe the feast of the Black Nazarene on Saturday, an environment watchdog said yesterday.

Citing Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si,” Eco-
Waste Coalition coordinator Aileen Lucero said, “Let not the creeping throwaway culture that Pope Francis has repeatedly denounced disgrace anew our age-old devotion to the Black Nazarene.”

She said the garbage generated by millions of devotees who attend the event has been increasing each year.

Citing government data, Lucero said 336 tons of garbage was collected in 2014 and 413 tons in 2015 along the route of the “Traslacion” procession from Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, popularly known as Quiapo Church.

The group said most of the trash is composed of cigarette butts; plastic bags, cups, bottles and straws; polystyrene food and beverage containers; bamboo skewers and food wastes.

Noting that it is also an election year, Lucero urged politicians to refrain from “tarpaulitics” and to keep “Plaza Miranda and the processional route tarpaulin-free.”