DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / August 17) – The month-long Kadayawan Festival, known for celebrating agricultural abundance, also generates a significant amount of daily garbage. A street sweeper in Magsaysay Park reported instances of running out of large trash cans to contain the collected waste, despite regular collection schedules around noon and 6 p.m. Similarly, a sweeper at the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s food bazaar noted that while they don’t run out of trash cans, they are often filled to the brim. Street sweepers are urging festival-goers to dispose of their trash responsibly. An elderly sweeper in Magsaysay Park shared that some visitors litter despite the availability of nearby trash cans. Sweepers work diligently from late noon to 8 p.m. to maintain cleanliness, even in the scorching heat. One sweeper questioned the city’s “discipline” campaign, asking, “Where is Dabawenyo DCplinado if they don’t throw their garbage properly?” At the food bazaar, another sweeper admitted that littering is “hindi maiwasan” (inevitable). Commonly collected items include plastics, straws, paper cups, plastic cups, and paper plates. Lakandiwa Orcullo from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office revealed that during Kadayawan, daily garbage increases to a thousand tons, up from the average of 700 to 800 tons. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)
