Mindanaotoday.com | Envi group: Untrash ‘Undas,’ keep cemeteries garbage-free
WITH B.T.S. (Bawal magTapon sa Sementeryo) as its battlecry, the EcoWaste Coalition today urged the Filipino people not to litter in the cemeteries as they visit the tombs of their dearly departed ones on November 1 and 2.
Anticipating a massive turnout of visitors with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the advocacy group for a zero waste and toxics-free society exhorted families and individuals who will visit the public cemeteries, private memorial parks and columbaria not to throw and leave any trash behind.
“We appeal to our fellow Filipinos to make this year’s observance of Undas different from the pre-pandemic celebrations marred by tons of garbage left by cemetery visitors and vendors,” said Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
“Enforcing B.T.S. (no littering in the cemetery) and taking other practical steps to minimize other forms of environmental pollution will contribute to a cleaner and healthier commemoration of Undas.”
“Upang matiyak ang malinis, ligtas at maayos na paggunita sa Araw ng mga Patay ay iwasan po natin ang pagkakalat sa loob at labas ng sementeryo bilang paggalang na rin sa ating mga nakahimlay na mahal sa buhay. Kakayanin po natin na mapanatiling maaliwalas at walang basura ang sementeryo kung tayo’y makikinig at magtutulungan,” stated Rosele Castañeda, Director, Manila North Cemetery.
For his part Fr. Antonio Labiao, Jr., Executive Secretary of Caritas Philippines and member of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Board of Trustees, said: “It’s our shared responsibility to ensure that our environment, which includes us all, is protected against practices that pollute and degrade it. As good stewards of Mother Nature, let us show how we value and care for her as we remember our deceased loved ones this coming Undas. Let’s make our cemeteries trash-free.”
To amplify their appeal for B.T.S., the EcoWaste Coalition assembled at the entrance of the Manila North Cemetery, one of the oldest and biggest in the country, together with the representatives of the Manila City Government, Manila North Cemetery, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Philippine National Police.
Five volunteers dressed up as “Zombasura,” a name coined by the group to describe cemetery litterbugs, drew attention to the notorious generation and disposal of trash in burial grounds, both public and private.
Waste monitoring conducted by the group’s Basura Patrollers before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic showed unrestrained littering of food packaging and food waste, plastic bags and bottles, soiled papers, cigarette butts and other discards, turning cemeteries into dumpsites.
In line with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which espouses waste prevention and reduction and prohibits polluting acts like littering, open dumping and open burning, and in accordance with other environmental and health laws and regulations, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the public to heed its ten-point cemetery etiquette, or “cemetiquette” for short. (PR)
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