Be a Sinulog Basura Watch volunteer
The Black Nazarene procession, as expected, drew hundreds of thousands of devotees. Their devotion must certainly have made the Nazarene happy. The pollution they left, however, must have saddened him.
The devotees left behind 146.59 tons of garbage, mostly plastic bottles, styrofoam boxes and plastic bags used to hold water. If the devotees could brave long hours for the procession, couldn’t they have had the time to put these types of waste in proper disposal containers or bags? Couldn’t the devotees show their real devotion to the Black Nazarene by carrying and responsibly managing their garbage back home?
What about this January 2019 Sinulog devotees, visitors, and revelers? Will the Sinulog crowd this year show true respect for God’s earth and will they keep the streets of Cebu City clean and free of garbage?
Will they also be law-abiding citizens obeying the anti-garbage ordinance?
Oh, we sincerely hope so; we sincerely pray so.
Experience and data, however, show so much garbage left behind by the crowds. Again, we ask, cannot the Sinulog crowd worship and enjoy the Feast of the Sto. Niño without leaving behind their trash?
Why do people throw garbage?
Many have this serious mindset that it is okay to throw - anyway, there are people hired to gather, collect, and dispose of waste. They do not feel any guilt or any sense of irresponsibility at all. They do not see the connection between devotion and pollution, between worship and respect for God and his earth. They do not see how money saved from their waste can translate into money for more food, jobs, and services, more lands for shelter and productive use. They do not understand that their waste causes health problems as well.
Waste management is someone else’s job.
There are those who throw garbage because others are doing so. There are still those who reason out that they throw garbage in the streets because there are no nearby waste containers.
In general, there are millions who still think that garbage is not their problem and its solution someone else’s.
What can be done to encourage all to keep this world clean?
January is Zero Waste Month. Each one is encouraged to reduce, reuse, recycle. Each one is encouraged to be responsible waste managers.
The third Sunday of January is the Feast of the Sto. Niño. Would you like to be a Sinulog Basura Watch volunteer?
Can we try and start again this month, this Sinulog to be more responsible for our own garbage?
You, your family, neighbors, friends, schoolmates, officemates can be responsible volunteers. How? Simply remember to bring your own waste containers or disposal bags in your bag or pocket and properly segregate and dispose of your own waste at home.
Or you may want to join the Cebu City CENRO pool of volunteers who will either work at eco-stations or be among the mobile basura collectors along the eight designated sectors throughout the Sinulog route.
Garbage will be collected at 50 Eco-stations at the Plaza Sugbo, Plaza Independencia, the Cathedral and at Sector 1- from Central Bank-Police Camp, Sector 2 - from Bradford to Crown Regency, Sector 3 - from Metrobank to Rajah Park, Sector 4, from Robinson to Fooda, Sector 5 - from USC Boys High to VECO, Sector 6 - from Carreta Cemetery to Day-as Barangay Hall, Sector 7- from D. Jakosalem Street to ACT, and Sector 8 - from UC to Landbank.
Come and attend the volunteers’ orientation, at 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 14 at the Cebu City CENRO office. Tag others too!
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