KALIKASAN: PANGALAGAAN SA HALALAN: Ang EcoWaste Coalition, kasama ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC), ay nagtipon sa harap ng Palacio del Gobernador sa Intramuros, Maynila, upang isulong ang maka-kalikasang eleksyon at itaguyod ang pagbabawas ng basura at polusyong plastik sa kampanya para sa halalang 2025. Upang maipakita ang epekto ng eleksyon sa kalikasan, hawak ng isang babae na naka-damit sa kulay ng watawat ang globo na kumakatawan kay Inang Daigdig na balot sa plastic tarpaulin, bugbog at namimilipit sa sakit dahil sa walang habas na paggawa, paggamit at pagtatapon ng mga plastik na materyales na kalimitan ay napupunta sa mga tambakan ng basura at sa kalikasan. Photo by EcoWaste Coalition

The environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition is one with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in advocating for an ecological campaign that will show respect and take care of our Mother Earth in words and in actions.

At the “Kalikasan: Pangalagaan sa Halalan” event held outside the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, the EcoWaste Coalition exhorted all candidates to curb the excessive generation of waste and to integrate environmental protection into their platforms and campaign strategies and activities. The event was held prior to the start on February 11 of the official campaign period for senatorial and partylist candidates and before the commencement of the campaign for local posts on March 28.

With elections often linked to environmental problems such as massive plastic waste from campaign materials, littering and improper disposal of election paraphernalia, and high energy consumption, EcoWaste Coalition urged national and local candidates, political parties, partylist groups, and voters to take an active role in reducing the environmental impact of the democratic exercise.

To dramatize the adverse impact of the electoral campaign on the environment, a woman dressed in flag colors held a globe representing Mother Earth visibly bruised and grimacing in pain due to the out-of-control use and disposal of plastic tarpaulins and other single-use plastics that is making her sickly and sad.

“We agree with the COMELEC that running for an elective post is not a license to degrade and ruin the environment. On the contrary, it carries a huge responsibility to care for and protect our fragile environment,” said Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. “The desire of a person or group to get elected should not come at the cost of environmental degradation. We therefore appeal to all candidates and other electoral stakeholders to prevent and reduce garbage, and, particularly, to minimize pollution from plastic campaign materials and their toxic chemical additives.”

At the launch last Friday of the Committee on Environmentally Sustainable Elections, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia rightly pointed out that “candidacy is not a license to destroy the environment or the peace of our constituents,” adding “we want election campaigns to be environment-friendly and the candidates are taking care of the environment.”

As part of its advocacy towards a zero waste and toxics-free society, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the importance of using reusable or recyclable campaign materials that can be easily and safely reused or recycled, and practising ecological waste management every step of the campaign to prevent materials from being littered, dumped or burned.

As written on their placards, the EcoWaste Coalition asked candidates not to nail their campaign materials on trees; avoid the use of confetti, balloons and banderitas; maximize the use of digital platforms; make their campaign meetings and sorties tobacco- and vape-free; limit the production of sample ballots; and to conduct post-campaign cleanup regardless of the poll results.

As stated in COMELEC Resolution No. 11111, which provides for the Guidelines on the Use of Environmentally Sustainable Election Propaganda, only election propaganda in the form of posters or standing displays (standees) made of cloth, paper, cardboard, or any recyclable materials shall be allowed. As reiterated by COMELEC, pursuant to Resolution No. 11086, it shall be unlawful to use single-use plastics under applicable laws, rules, and relevant issuances; fireworks for election-related campaign meetings or celebratory gatherings; and styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances used in election campaign, services or events.

In addition to these restrictions, COMELEC encourages the use of the following sustainable campaign materials:

“We urge all candidates and their supporters to heed the COMELEC guidelines to make the midterm elections environmentally caring as much as possible. By choosing recyclable and reusable non-toxic campaign materials, reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, and ecologically managing the campaign discards, we can collectively reduce pollution and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.

EcoWaste Coalition
78-A Masigla Extension, Barangay Central, 1100 Quezon City
http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/