MANILA, Philippines — While it was “amazed” with the devotion of millions of Filipinos joining the feast, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) on Wednesday said it was appalled by the piles of garbage devotees of the Black Nazarene left strewn along the procession route.

In a statement, PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio “Pepeton” Goitia “enlightened” the Catholic faithful who joined the annual “Traslacion” that improper waste disposal is “likewise inconsistent with your devotion.”

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“While we are amazed with your devotion, we are also appalled by the piles of garbage that you leave behind every after procession,” Goitia said.

Despite calls from various environmental watchdogs, devotees still dumped their garbage, such as polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers, plastic bottles and paper cups, on the route of the Traslacion that ended on Thursday.

Goitia noted that the Pasig River was not spared from the “irresponsibility” of the devotees.

“The irresponsible and illegal dumping of garbage, be it a tiny wrapper of candy, threatens the aquatic life, which took two decades of restoration, in the Pasig River,” the director said.

“Furthermore, such irresponsible actions is not only a threat to the life of the Pasig River, but also to Manila Bay and Laguna Lake,” he added.

The PRRC earlier urged devotees to “clean as you go” and to properly dispose of their garbage.

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But, the environmental group EcoWaste Coalition lamented that their plea for a trash-free Traslacion fell on “deaf ears.” /muf



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