Ecowaste coalition and some delegates of Miss Earth Philippines 2018 troop to the Comelec to campaign for waste prevention and reduction as the synchronised Barangay and SK elections nears. INQUIRER / Grig C. Montegrande
Hopefuls for the Miss Earth Philippines 2018 title on Wednesday urged candidates in this year’s Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to ensure a “waste-free” campaign period.
In a program held in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Manila, pageant candidates stood with environmental activists to call for an eco-friendly election.
The program was jointly conducted by the Miss Earth Foundation and the EcoWaste Coalition.
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Marla Alforque, Miss Earth Philippines candidate from Cebu City, said that candidates should conduct more house visits instead of using traditional campaign materials such as tarpaulins, posters and flyers.
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“Why not make it a habit, like, house visitations in their barangays where they are running? It’s also a chance for the people to know them personally, and for them to know their advocacies,” Alforque said.
“We only have one planet. We should always protect it. Even the small things can create a macro-effect to our environment, so we have to be more cautious with our actions,” she stressed.
On the other hand, zero-waste campaigner Daniel Alejandre said EcoWaste Coalition as well as other environmental groups would be teaming-up with the Comelec in monitoring campaign violations.
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“Katuwang ang Comelec sa pag-rereport namin dito ng mga violations tulad ng pag papako (ng campaign paraphernalia) sa mga puno. Kapag pinapako iyan, nasisira,” Alejandre said.
“Kadalasan, kapag ang mga kandidato ay gumagamit ng so much plastic at maliliit na flyers, kalimitan ay hindi natatanggal ng maayos at bumabara sa mga kanal, at ito ay nagko-cause ng baha,” he explained.
Asked if they would file charges against violators, Alejandre said: “Yes, ginagawa siya ng EcoWaste Coalition, at kasama rin natin ang Comelec sa monitoring.”
In a separate statement, Comelec commissioner Luie Guia commended the Miss Earth Foundation and the EcoWaste Coalition for their environmental advocacy program in line with this year’s village polls.
“I commend your action and wholeheartedly join you in appealing to the Barangay and SK poll candidates and the general public to be environmentally caring and responsible,” Guia said.
“Any decrease in the volume and toxicity of campaign trash will help in reducing the negative impact of the electoral exercise on the environment,” he added. /muf