Buddhist foundation collects trash from a cemetery to turn into blankets, shirts

After the barrage of visitors at the Manila North Cemetery for the annual commemoration of Undas comes several truckloads of garbage, such as styro cups, food packaging, and plastic bottles.

According to a report by Susan Enriquez in 24 Oras on Friday, 14 trucks of garbage has been collected since the beginning of Undas, All Saints' Day, on Thursday.

The Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist foundation, has been helping collect plastic waste for upcycling.

A batch of 80 pieces of 1.5 liter bottles can make one blanket, while 12 bottles can make one shirt, the report said.

The raw materials will be shipped to Taiwan for processing.

Nanilita Alburo of Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines said the blankets and shirts are prepared as part of donations for victims of calamities.

"Binabalik naman sa Pilipinas mga kumot, binibigay sa mga nabahaan, nasunugan," she said.

The Department of Public Services said the rest of the trash will be brought to a landfill in Navotas.

Garbage collection is also the main work in other cemeteries after the commemoration of Undas.

At the Manila South Cemetery, nearly 10 trucks of garbage were collected this morning.

The San Fernando City Public Cemetery in La Union was similarly littered with trash, unlike a cemetery in Boracay where trash was properly disposed of.

Sociologist Brother Clifford Sorita said that proper disposal of garbage is not part of Filipinos' mindset.

"Bakit wala sa mindset ng Pilipino yung proper cleanliness at awareness sa bawat pagtapon ng basura?" he asked.

"Kapag ang batas, strictly implemented, people tend to follow pero kapag ang batas kino-compromise mo to padrino sistema, ibang kamalayan yun," he added. — Jessica Bartolome/BAP, GMA News