“The culture of throwing discards wherever and whenever it is convenient again spoiled our time-honored tradition of remembering our departed relatives,” said Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator. As of Wednesday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it had collected 168 truckloads of garbage or around 1,008 tons from 23 cemeteries in Metro Manila. According to Martinez, of the 23 cemeteries they have cleared, Manila North Cemetery had the biggest amount of trash at 35 truckloads. Next was Manila South Cemetery (28 truckloads) and La Loma Public Cemetery (18 truckloads). The most common type of garbage left by visitors were leftover food, disposable food and beverage containers, cigarette butts and soiled papers likely used as mats, EcoWaste Coalition said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 02, 2016 17:50 UTC