192 tons of trash collected in Nazarene feast

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday reported having collected 192 tons of garbage in the wake of the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo last Wednesday.

According to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, the collected trash is equivalent to 32 truckloads.

“Umabot sa 192 tonelada ng basura ang nakolekta ng ating mga tauhan though this is lower than last year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene na umabot ng 300 tonelada o 50 truckloads,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said MMDA clearing personnel, aided by cleaners from the local government of Manila, immediately followed the procession and collected trash as the devotees moved on. 

“Iyon talaga ang plano namin na nakasunod na agad ang mga tao natin kasama ang mga taga city government para malinis agad ang lugar,” Tolentino said.

MMDA Metro Parkway Clearing Group chief Francis Martinez said Quiapo was cleared of garbage as of  Thursday. Martinez said a firetruck was also brought in to spray water on Plaza Miranda to remove the stench of urine.

“Sa ngayon malinis na iyong lugar na dinaanan ng procession dahil iyong ginawa namin nakasunod kami dahil pag-alis nila nagsisimula na agad kaming maglinis,” Martinez said. 

The MMDA said the collected garbage, mostly plastic water bottles and food wrappers were taken to Nagtahan before these were transferred to Pier 18 and then taken to a sanitary landfill.