CEBU, Philippines — A two-hour street dancing parade was held today by residents of Barangay Tejero in Cebu City ahead of the Sinulog Festival as a call to celebrate the feast “plastic-free.”

According to the EcoWaste Coalition, the parade, themed “Sinulog sa Kabatan-onan Alang sa Kinaiyahan” (Sinulog of the Youth for the Environment), was joined by over 50 residents of Barangay Tejero. 

Participants performed traditional Sinulog dances while carrying images of the Child Jesus. Some also held statement cards advocating for a “trashless” and plastic-free celebration of the feast, all while chanting “Viva Pit Senyor!” in unison. 

The street dance started at Ponce Street near Carreta Cemetery and concluded with a program at the Barangay Tejero Gymnasium.

During the program, Barangay Tejero Captain Harold Seno reminded tourists and residents to keep the streets and plazas “litter-free” during the celebration.

“Sinulog attracts millions of people from within Cebu and afar and it can generate tons upon tons of garbage, especially single-use plastic and food waste.  We are one with the EcoWaste Coalition in reminding residents and visitors to join hands in keeping our streets and plazas litter-free,” he said in a statement.

EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero likewise said that as part of the celebration, residents and visitors have a shared responsibility to protect the environment.

“Sinulog is a celebration of faith and culture, and this activity brings a timely reminder that we, as stewards of God’s creation, have the responsibility to protect the environment. Zero waste is not just a hollow buzzword — it’s a lifestyle change that we must adopt together to combat plastic pollution and preserve our planet for ourselves and the future generations,” she said.

Sanlakas Cebu, also urged grassroots collective action to tackle Cebu’s growing waste problem. Representative Victor Sumampong said the Sinulog-inspired event was a call to address the garbage crisis and advocate for ecological solutions that uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

“Through our Sinulog-inspired action, we hope to call attention to the mounting garbage problem facing the people of Cebu and the need for a concerted response to push for ecological solutions that will uphold our human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” Sumampong said.

A recurring problem

In August 2024, Acting Department of Public Services head John Paul Gelasque said during a council session that residents remain resistant with the implementation of its “no segregation, no collection policy,” saying that DPS personnel still collect improperly segregated waste in the city.

Gelasque said in a report that from January to June 2024, a total of 104,009.58 tons of garbage was collected in the city. 

The monthly breakdown is as follows: 

• January — 18,677.73 tons
• February — 16,966.33 tons
• March — 16,410.71 tons
• April — 16,584.26 tons
• May — 17,315.96 tons
• June —18,054.59 tons

The official said that the DPS had a total of spent P199,423,813.50 on hauling and tipping fees from January to June last year.