Group laments massive littering in Manila cemeteries

MANILA -- Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Friday hit the massive littering in cemeteries and based on their monitoring, not even a single person was apprehended and penalized for the offense.

"From dawn to dusk, litterbugs were practically allowed to trash their surroundings to the max without any risk of being chastised, creating ugly mini-dumpsites in cemeteries," said Edwin Alejo, EcoWaste coordinator.

Among the areas reportedly littered with garbage were the Sangandaan Public Cemetery in Caloocan City, Tugatog Public Cemetery in Malabon City, Makati Catholic Cemetery, Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, Mandaluyong Catholic Cemetery, Pasay City Public Cemetery, and Holy Gardens Memorial Park and St. Clement Catholic Cemetery in Angono, Rizal.

EcoWaste volunteers highlighted the ill-preparedness of government agencies and cemetery administrators to deal with the discards from such a large number of visitors as shown by the lack of operational programs on ecological solid waste management in most cemeteries.

Typical discards found by the group in cemeteries were food leftovers, paper and plastic food containers and wrappers, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic cups, cigarette butts, grass cuttings and other yard waste, and commercial and religious leaflets.

Under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, litterbugs can be punished with a fine of P300 to P1,000 and obliged to do community service at the local government unit where the offense was perpetrated, or be directed to pay the fine and render community service. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)