Cleanup begins

City environment office urges political parties to begin dismantling, cleaning campaign materials

WHETHER they won or lost the elections, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) is now urging all candidates to clean up and remove their election paraphernalia now that the election period is over.

Clenro head Engineer Armen Cuenca however said its office will also conduct "plogging" on Friday, a regular activity of Clenro where people pick up trash while on a run.

Cuenca said they will also tap students under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) as their augmentation force in the plogging activity.

"Ikalipay nato nga sila motangtang, kay ila man ng responsibilidad (We will be happy if they remove it themselves because it is their responsibility)," Cuenca said.

He said Clenro will also look at recycling these election materials, such as tarpaulin.

Ecowaste Coalition, a nongovernment organization, also asked candidates to sort the dismantled campaign materials and upcycle them.

"Regardless of the outcome of your election bid, we appeal to all candidates and parties to take down your campaign materials without delay. Kabit, sabit o dikit mo, tanggal mo,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator.

“Sort the dismantled campaign materials and upcycle them as much as possible,” she added.

“Upcycling, or the creative reuse of discards, is a practical way of saving resources from being burned or sent to the dumps and landfills for disposal,” she said..

According to the group, decreased garbage volume, lower disposal cost, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, conservation of resources, cleaner surroundings and enhanced environmental awareness are some of the benefits of upcycling election campaign materials.

"There is also a need to responsibilize candidates and parties in the mandatory removal and environmentally sound management of campaign materials right after election," Lucero said.