governance.
Zero waste advocates will be watching closely how the two major political
camps, the Aquino-led Team PNoy and the Binay-led United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA), will conduct their senatorial proclamation rallies on February 12 in
Manila and in Cebu.
In
separate letters sent today to President Benigno S. Aquino III and Liberal
Party Campaign Manager Senator Franklin Drilon of Team PNoy, and to
Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay and UNA Secretary General and Campaign Manager
Congressman Tobias M. Tiangco, the EcoWaste Coalition urged both camps to
demonstrate their concern for the environment when they fire their opening
salvos next Tuesday.
“We challenge both parties to set the standard for clean and eco-friendly
political campaigns in their sorties throughout the archipelago, and to avoid
exacerbating our environmental problems with their campaign garbage and
polluting political paraphernalia,” said Von Hernandez, President, EcoWaste
Coalition.
“We ask politicians to conduct their campaign activities – in a ‘Zero Basura’
way – which, in our view translates to good governance. By purposely preventing
and reducing their campaign garbage, political parties will be making a
positive difference towards protecting and preserving our fragile environment,”
he said.
The Quezon City-based EcoWaste Coalition plans to deploy its “Zero Basura
Patrol” to monitor the conduct of Team PNoy’s proclamation event at the
historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, while its Cebu-based affiliate, the
Philippine Earth Justice Center, will observe UNA’s event slated to be held at
the Maritima Heritage grounds near the Cebu City Hall.
The EcoWaste Coalition
also challenged Team PNoy and UNA to faithfully abide by the requirements of
Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and Republic
Act 9006, or the Fair Election Act.
According to the EWC, Team PNoy and UNA must ensure that
their proclamation rallies and subsequent campaign sorties in the next three
months are fully compliant with R.A. 9003’s ban against littering, open burning
and open dumping. The coalition also asked Team PNoy and UNA and their
supporters to desist from throwing confetti, exploding firecrackers and
fireworks and from releasing balloons and sky lanterns for health,
environmental and safety concerns.
With
respect to R.A. 9006, Team PNoy and UNA should stick to lawful and ecological
election propaganda as elaborated in Comelec Resolution 9615, where “parties
and candidates are encouraged to use recyclable and environment-friendly
materials and avoid those that contain hazardous chemicals and substances in
the production of their campaign and election propaganda,” the EcoWaste
Coalition noted.
The waste watchdog likewise reminded Team PNoy and UNA not
to post their campaign materials outside of designated common poster areas, and
never on trees, flowering plants, shrubs and other forbidden places as per
Comelec Resolution 9615.
“Aside from simply complying with these existing laws , we are also
challenging both parties to draw up a clear and meaningful environmental agenda
as part of their respective electoral platforms . This will give the voting
public the opportunity to elect leaders who are truly invested in securing a
green and sustainable future for this country.” Hernandez added.
The EcoWaste Coalition, together with Greenpeace and other
allies, will be conducting Green Electoral Initiative (GEI) around the theme
“Berde ka ba?” which aims to encourage political coalitions and parties to
develop their green platforms and identify environmental champions from their
senatorial line-up.
The EcoWaste Coalition is a national network of more than 150 public interest
groups pursuing sustainable and just solutions to waste, climate change and
chemical issues towards the envisioned Zero Waste 2020 goal.
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