MMDA gathers 200 tons of ‘election trash’ from March 1 to May 16

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 200.37 tons of election materials, filling up 29 truckloads, were hauled from all over the metropolis from March 1 to May 16, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Friday.

The MMDA said its Parkways Clearing Group has collected a total of 54.95 tons of campaign material trash in the three days following the May 13 elections alone: 23.42 tons on May 14; 14.45 tons on May 15 and 17.08 tons on May 16.

These were collected from major thoroughfares and near public schools in the metropolis, the agency added.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said the collected campaign materials will not be thrown away at landfills but will instead be converted to bags, place mats, baskets, school supplies, and other useful materials.

Environmental groups who wish to recycle campaign materials could coordinate with the agency, the MMDA said.

“More than 100 personnel are involved in the taking down and removal of campaign materials in major thoroughfares and several public schools in Metro Manila,” the agency said in a statement.

The MMDA also said collected materials are temporarily stored at its satellite offices under the Nagtahan and Santolan flyovers.

Last March 1, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) deputized the MMDA to remove all illegal posters and campaign materials for the midterm elections.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)