TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) -– The provincial legislative body will push for a garbage-free elections in 2016 as avalanche of election trash is always expected once the campaign season goes full swing.
Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto said that members of the provincial board, who are mostly running for a reelection bid in next year’s polls, have initially made talks among themselves to lessen waste generation from their campaign materials.
“It would also be good if the rest of the candidates in the province can follow the same to minimize their waste from campaign posters and other materials,” Loreto said.
He added that this proposal has been referred to the SP committee on the environment to draft a resolution that would direct candidate towards a garbage-free election campaign.
Particularly, Loreto said, the local body would like candidates to minimize use of non-reusable and disposable materials and promote the use of recyclable, biodegradable and non-hazardous materials; and, exercise best effort to use reusable materials and alternative methods of campaigning such as social networking sites and text messaging.
Observing waste segregation, the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) and proper waste disposal during campaign meetings will also be encouraged, Loreto added.
In the 2013 elections, it was jointly ordered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for local officials, political parties, party-list organizations, candidates and their supporters to adhere to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, during the campaign period.
RA 9003 provides for a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management system to ensure the protection of public health and the environment through the adoption of environmentally sound methods like waste avoidance and volume reduction. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR
