{"id":5317,"date":"2025-02-10T11:36:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courageous-peach-squirrel.62-72-47-242.cpanel.site\/?p=5317"},"modified":"2025-02-10T11:36:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:36:04","slug":"ecowaste-coalition-to-midterm-election-candidates-protect-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greeninc.ph\/?p=5317","title":{"rendered":"EcoWaste Coalition To Midterm Election Candidates: Protect The Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition is one with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in advocating for an ecological campaign that will show respect and take care of our Mother Earth in words and in actions.<\/p>\n

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At the \u201cKalikasan: Pangalagaan sa Halalan\u201d event held outside the poll body\u2019s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, the EcoWaste Coalition exhorted all candidates to curb the excessive generation of waste and to integrate environmental protection into their platforms and campaign strategies and activities. The event was held prior to the start on February 11 of the official campaign period for senatorial and partylist candidates and before the commencement of the campaign for local posts on March 28.<\/p>\n

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With elections often linked to environmental problems such as massive plastic waste from campaign materials, littering and improper disposal of election paraphernalia, and high energy consumption, EcoWaste Coalition urged national and local candidates, political parties, partylist groups, and voters to take an active role in reducing the environmental impact of the democratic exercise.<\/p>\n

To dramatize the adverse impact of the electoral campaign on the environment, a woman dressed in flag colors held a globe representing Mother Earth visibly bruised and grimacing in pain due to the out-of-control use and disposal of plastic tarpaulins and other single-use plastics that is making her sickly and sad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe agree with the COMELEC that running for an elective post is not a license to degrade and ruin the environment. On the contrary, it carries a huge responsibility to care for and protect our fragile environment,\u201d said Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. \u201cThe desire of a person or group to get elected should not come at the cost of environmental degradation. We therefore appeal to all candidates and other electoral stakeholders to prevent and reduce garbage and, particularly, to minimize pollution from plastic campaign materials and their toxic chemical additives.\u201d<\/p>\n

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At the launch last Friday of the Committee on Environmentally Sustainable Elections, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia rightly pointed out that \u201ccandidacy is not a license to destroy the environment or the peace of our constituents,\u201d adding \u201cwe want election campaigns to be environment-friendly and the candidates are taking care of the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of its advocacy towards a zero-waste and toxics-free society, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the importance of using reusable or recyclable campaign materials that can be easily and safely reused or recycled and practicing ecological waste management every step of the campaign to prevent materials from being littered, dumped, or burned.<\/p>\n

As written on their placards, the EcoWaste Coalition asked candidates not to nail their campaign materials on trees; avoid the use of confetti, balloons, and banderitas; maximize the use of digital platforms; make their campaign meetings and sorties tobacco- and vape-free; limit the production of sample ballots; and conduct post-campaign cleanup regardless of the poll results.<\/p>\n

As stated in COMELEC Resolution No. 11111, which provides for the Guidelines on the Use of Environmentally Sustainable Election Propaganda, only election propaganda in the form of posters or standing displays (standees) made of cloth, paper, cardboard, or any recyclable materials shall be allowed. As reiterated by COMELEC, pursuant to Resolution No. 11086, it shall be unlawful to use single-use plastics under applicable laws, rules, and relevant issuances; fireworks for election-related campaign meetings or celebratory gatherings; and styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances used in election campaigns, services, or events.<\/p>\n

In addition to these restrictions, COMELEC encourages the use of the following sustainable campaign materials:<\/p>\n