The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked local government units (LGUs) and candidates to dispose of campaign trash materials in their districts within three days of the May 9 elections.
“Clean-up of election litter is the first order of business after the polls. Aside from incumbent LGU officials, we urge all candidates, winners and non-winners alike, to take it upon themselves to lead in the removal of their campaign materials,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.
Año advised local chief executives to dispose of election propaganda paraphernalia properly in compliance with environmental laws and municipal ordinances and regulations prohibiting illegal dumping, open burning, and litter.
He also encouraged people to use the material recovery facilities of the barangay and the local government to collect and repair reusable materials and come up with new and safe ways to recycle or upcycle reusable campaign waste items.
“Impose the responsibility to the organizers of political activities, to ensure that waste generated by their activities, and their attendees will be properly managed and disposed of,” the DILG official said.
LGUs, candidates urged to remove campaign posters within 3 days
“Hinihimok din po natin ang ating mga kababayan na makiisa sa clean-up drive ng kanilang LGUs at barangay (We also urge our countrymen to join the clean-up drive of their LGUs and barangays). We have done our part in exercising our right to vote. Let’s continue to participate in governance through our simple ways of cleaning up our neighborhood from election litter.”
The DILG chief pointed out that campaign materials made of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials may negatively affect public health and the environment if improperly disposed of.
Año said that at least 168.84 tons of campaign materials were collected in the 2019 midterm elections.
The Comelec began a virtual crackdown on what it believed to be forbidden campaign posters due to their sizes on Feb. 16, a week into the official campaign period for national candidates.
However, this strategy has drawn criticism for targeting election materials on private homes and posters, billboards, and other visual representations of Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as has been noticed.
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