EcoWaste slams illegal campaign posters, appeals to candidates

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition lamented on Monday the proliferation of posters placed in prohibited areas as the campaign for local candidates kicked off over the weekend.

The group also appealed to candidates and their supporters to use environment-friendly propaganda materials.

“The blatant disrespect for election rules explicitly banning the posting of campaign materials in unauthorized places is not good either for democracy or for the environment,” EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero said in a statement.

“Also, illegal posters, which are mostly plastic-based, contribute to campaign garbage that can pollute the environment long after the election is over,” Lucero added.

EcoWaste’s Basura Patrollers over the weekend reportedly saw election posters nailed or wired on trees, taped on electric posts and traffic signage, and displayed on bridges.

This constitutes “prohibited forms of election propaganda” as stated in Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Resolution 10488, the group said.

According to the resolution, those considered as “public places” include “waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, and center islands of roads and highways,” among others.

The group also pointed out a provision of the resolution where “parties and candidates are encouraged to use recyclable and environment-friendly materials and avoid those that contain hazardous chemicals and substances in the production of their campaign and election propaganda.”

“While the use of ecological and non-toxic campaign materials is unfortunately not mandatory at this stage, we appeal to all candidates and parties to be mindful of the environmental impact of the materials they use to woo the electorate, so as not to add to the country’s waste and pollution woes,” Lucero said. /cbb