The Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Cordillera said candidates in the May 12 polls should find ways to recycle the materials they used during the campaign period.
EMB Regional Director Jean Borromeo advised candidates in an interview Monday that their tarpaulins are recyclable materials that can be turned into bags or even roofing or walls.
She said her office will communicate with women’s organizations to encourage recycling and repurposing of campaign materials.
“They are good at coming up with ideas. They might find other purposes for the tarpaulin materials used during the campaign,” Borromeo said.
Director Julius Torres of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Cordillera Administrative Region told the Philippine News Agency that “efforts will be done to recycle all these tarps.”
“That is why under the law, only environmentally friendly campaign materials should be used,” he said.
He said they are also waiting for a directive on where to dispose of tarpaulins confiscated during “Oplan Baklas,” the Comelec activity that takes down campaign posters in non-common poster areas or exceeding the size limit.
“It is supposed to be the obligation of all candidates to help in cleaning their campaign materials after the election. However, our local government units usually do the cleaning,” he said, noting that it is the garbage collectors who recycle the tarpaulins.
“We ask that our candidates be responsible in ensuring to bring their places back to normal, without the tarpaulins hanging everywhere and maybe endeavor to initiate the donation of the said materials to recyclers to be repurposed so that they do not just end up as trash,” he added. (PNA)
