Traslacion 2025 leaves 100 truckloads of garbage

The sea of devotees of Jesus Nazareno who joined the Traslacion 2025 and trooped to Quiapo left mounds of garbage in parts of Manila that reached up to 400 metric tons or the equivalent of 100 truckloads of trash.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jonathan Andal, garbage collectors from the city government were busy hauling the remnants of the annual procession. Vendors also cleaned the vicinity of their stores before opening business anew on Friday.

Garbage collected from January 6 to 10 filled more than 100 trucks or almost 400 metric tons, the city government said.  This was less than the 158 truckloads or 468 metric tons gathered during the 2024 Traslacion.

“Dapat pag maka-Diyos ka, malinis ka. Hindi yung maka-Diyos ka tapos balasubas ka naman, kung saan-saan mo itatapon yung mga pinagkainan mo,” said vendor Amrodin Sarep.

(If you are God-fearing, then you should be clean. You can't be God-fearing but irresponsible, and throw your garbage anywhere.)

Piles of trash could be found in the route of the procession including Plaza del Carmen near the Sebastian Church.  

Food containers, plastic bottles, and plastic sheets made up most of the garbage collected.

Plastic bottles filled with urine also littered some areas.

“’Yung iba, nilagay sa bote. ‘Yung iba, walang takip. Siyempre, pag natumba, [umaamoy],” said vendor Allan Pango.

(Some urinated in bottles. Some of them have no bottle caps. Of course, it smells.)

Several people were also seen urinating on the streets during the procession, prompting the city government to conduct flushing in some areas to rid them of the foul odor.

The administration of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or the Quiapo Church said it will work on adding more portalets in next year's procession.

Meanwhile, residents in Baseco Compound complained about garbage that has not been collected for the past three days.

“Perwisyo na nga po kasi di maalis-alis ang basura. Hindi na kaya ang baho, masakit sa dibdib,” said Baseco Resident Jonjon.

(It’s a nuisance already because we couldn’t get rid of the garbage. We can’t take the smell anymore, it hurts my chest.)

Garbage from the Feast of Jesus Nazareno had exacerbated the city's issue with its garbage amid earlier reports of non-collection by the contractor due to alleged delays in payment.

The Manila Department of Public Services said it is now working on cleaning up the remaining garbage in the city.

“Unti-unti na pong nagiging stable ang pagkolekta ng basura. Ineexpect po namin ngayong week po, matatapos na po ‘yan,” said officer-in-charge Jonathan Garzo.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News