DENR asks public to minimize garbage in upcoming elections, holidays

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA—Environment officials are bracing themselves for the huge volume of garbage that is expected to be generated during the barangay elections on Oct. 28 and the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day a few days later.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday issued a reminder to the public to keep schools and cemeteries garbage-free in the upcoming holidays.

“Both occasions will undoubtedly have a festive atmosphere, with a lot of waste from campaign materials, food containers and the like,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a news release.

He reminded Filipinos to be “more creative” with their use of materials that would otherwise go to the trash bin.

“The easiest thing to remember about reducing waste is to utilize reusable or recyclable materials or containers especially when packing food and drinks, and to take time to throw trash in bins coded to segregate them accordingly,” he said.

An estimated 30,000 tons of garbage is generated in the country every day, with 8,000 tons produced in Metro Manila alone. The volume shoots up during public holidays.

For the barangay elections, Paje called on governors and mayors to ensure that the candidates observe litter-free elections and oversee the cleanup operations in schools and other polling precincts immediately after all the ballots are cast.

He reminded them that local government units have the primary task of enforcing the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Under the law, a person caught littering shall be fined from P300 to P1,000, or made to render community service.

At the same time, Paje encouraged voters to “watch for candidates who opt for an environment-friendly campaign and who will assist in cleanup activities afterwards, as these are good signs that they will make good on their duty to keep your community clean and green.”

He said immediate cleanup activities after the elections would prevent trash from clogging waterways and cause flooding when it rains.

As for the All Saints Day weekend, Paje gave the following tips to millions of Filipinos who are expected to troop to cemeteries:

•   Abide by local ordinances regarding the use of plastic bags;

•   Reduce waste by bringing only a sufficient amount of food;

•   Use fresh flowers and small potted plants;

•   Lessen air pollution by ensuring that vehicles are well-maintained, observing car-pooling, or using public transportation.