Some pilgrimage sites were litter-free during Holy Week – EcoWaste Coalition

Waste and pollution watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition said several pilgrimage sites were litter-free  during Holy Week.

In a statement on Saturday, EcoWaste said that their monitoring activities showed the following churches were litter-free on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday:

-              Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

-              Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of the Pillar

-              Minor Basilica of San Sebastian

-              National Shrine of the Our Lady of the Abandoned

-              National Shrine of the Sacred Heart

-              Archdiocese Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Loreto

-              Archdiocese Shrine of the Nuestra Señora de Guia

-              Saint John Bosco Parish

-              San Ildefonso Parish

-              San Pablo Apostol Parish

-              The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Parañaque City)

-              Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Quezon City)

-              St. Gregory the Great Parish (Indang, Cavite)

-              The Cathedral of the Holy Child (National Cathedral of the Philippine Independent Church, Manila City)

EcoWaste thanked the local government and church authorities for maintaining cleanliness. The group also mentioned the need for effective measures to “control, if not eradicate,” littering during pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, there were a handful of churches found to be full of litter left by pilgrims.

EcoWaste said that heaps of trash were found in the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

There was trash at the hill with the statue of the crucified Christ, plastic bags for candles at the Stations of the Cross, and old plastic bottles and bowls in the picnic area.

Antipolo Cathedral reported less garbage than it had in 2024.

EcoWaste said that there were discarded religious literature and other garbage at the church entrance, while some devotees left plastic sheets, boxes, plastic bottles, food, and food containers during the Alay Lakad.

Litter was also seen on Ortigas Avenue Extension, which leads to Antipolo Cathedral.

The National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy (Marilao, Bulacan), the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Grace (Caloocan City), and the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Manila City) were among the other locations where trash was monitored. — VBL, GMA Integrated News