The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported collecting less trash in cemeteries from this year’s commemoration of “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day as compared to last year.
MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the total volume of garbage collected by their personnel from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2019, reached 47.65 tons from 27 cemeteries across Metro Manila as compared to 2018’s 57.95 tons or about 10 tons less.
Pialago said the garbage collected this year equated to about 14 truckloads against last year’s 17 truckloads.
The collection of less garbage this year was attributed to the ban on ambulant vendors inside and around Metro Manila cemeteries.
“A policy was put in place to ban only informal vendors.”
Earlier, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the policy was put in place to ban only informal vendors and not those organized by cemetery management.
“300 personnel from their Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group were responsible for the cleanup of major cemeteries.”
Garcia said 300 personnel from their Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG) were responsible for the cleanup of major cemeteries under the MMDA’s watch such as the Manila North Cemetery in Manila, Manila South Cemetery in Makati City, the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City, Bagbag Public Cemetery in Quezon City, and the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Garcia clarified that MMDA personnel were only responsible for cleaning the areas surrounding the cemeteries and not inside the compounds.