Environmental watchdog group and Iloilo youth call for a waste-free Dinagyang Festival
26 January 2024, Iloilo City. The environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition and concerned Iloilo City youth residents through the People Against False Solutions movement called for a waste-free celebration amidst Dinagyang festivities today in Calle Real.
The groups underlined the need for residents and tourists to commit to sustainability for this year's festival in light of the massive littering that followed the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, which led to the collection of 290 tons of trash (Source: PIO Cebu City) and the 87 tons of garbage gathered during Dinagyang 2024 (Source: CENRO Iloilo). With the Iloilo City government anticipating a significant increase in waste generation during this year's festivities (Source: Daily Guardian), the groups are urging the public to embrace a more eco-friendly celebration.
“We’ve seen how large-scale festivals like Sinulog can generate tons of waste that burden local systems,” said Ninya Sarmiento, EcoWaste Coalition's Campaigner Against False Solutions. “It’s essential that we heed the call for a zero waste celebration, not only for the sake of our environment, but also to set a new precedent in how we handle public events. The Dinagyang Festival can be a model for how tradition and sustainability can go hand in hand.”
The groups lauded the efforts of the Iloilo City government to address the anticipated increase in waste, including implementing improved waste collection systems and public awareness campaigns ahead of the festival. In alignment with this, they echoed the call of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO) Iloilo for a Zero Waste Dinagyang which encouraged residents to follow simple but impactful tips for waste reduction:
Bring your own reusable water bottles
Clean as you go
Patronize vendors who use sustainable packaging
Avoid single-use plastics and other non-reusable items
“As part of EcoWaste Coalition’s Zero Waste Month celebrations, this event calls attention to the need for ecological waste management during festivals like Dinagyang,” said Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator. “Our collective action during these events is crucial in ensuring that they remain a celebration of culture, faith, and the environment, rather than a cause for further environmental degradation.”
This event is part of a series of activities organized by EcoWaste Coalition for its 25th anniversary, following similar initiatives, including the call for a Zero Waste Sinulog in Cebu. These activities aim to promote waste reduction and sustainability across communities, particularly during large-scale celebrations.
The People Against False Solutions (PAFS) organizational movement, which campaigns primarily against the establishment of a waste-to-energy facility in Iloilo, also lent its voice to the call for truly sustainable solutions. PAFS is urging the LGU to prioritize strategies that align with a circular economy and shift away from waste management methods that perpetuate the problem of waste, rather than solving it.
“We need to take a step back and examine long-term solutions that do not just manage waste, but reduce it at the source,” said Kyla Balibagoso from People Against False Solutions. “The proposed waste-to-energy plant is not the answer. We need to move towards a radical circular economy where waste is minimized and reused, not burned for energy. The Dinagyang Festival is an opportunity for the city to lead by example in promoting sustainable waste management. Devotion, culture, and advocacy can go hand-in-hand.”
As People Against False Solutions heed its call against waste-to-energy incineration, lead convenor Queenie Agdalipe and co-convenor Kyla Balibagoso are also asking the community to come forward and aid them in this solidarity movement. “We need more voices and whispers to uplift from the resounding noise covered by false solutions,” said Queenie Agdalipe.
With the Dinagyang Festival continuing to grow in both scale and attendance, EcoWaste Coalition and PAFS are hopeful that their collective call for a waste-free celebration will resonate with the public and set a positive example for future cultural festivals in the country.
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