Comelec pushes for biodegradable campaign materials

As it eyed an “environmentally compliant” 2025 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday pushed for the use of biodegradable campaign materials.

“’Yung mga posters dapat biodegradable lahat ‘yan and at the same time, dapat susunod doon sa pine-prescribe ng hindi lamang ng United Nations (UN) kung hindi kahit ‘yung ating Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” poll body chairperson George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(The posters should be biodegradable and, at the same time, they should follow the requirements of not only the UN but also the DENR.)

Aside from this, he said there must also be a decrease in noise pollution during the campaign and election period.

Garcia said they are proposing the creation of a body that would draft policies and guidelines that would be implemented by Comelec.

The Comelec chief said that posters that do not meet Comelec requirements will be regarded as illegal posters and such violation may be grounds for disqualification.

“Kapag naglabag sila diyan lumabag sila sa patakaran ng Comelec, which is under the Omnibus Election Code, ‘yan po ay isang election offense at pwedeng maging ground ng disqualification,” Garcia said.

(If they violate rules of the Comelec, which is under the Omnibus Election Code, it will qualify as an election offense and may be grounds for disqualification.)

He also stressed that global warming is already a threat, citing the extreme heat and flooding in the country.

“‘Wag po mag-alala. There can always be a compromise between profit, business, at saka ‘yung atin pong obligasyon sa atin po namang mundo at sa atin pong kapaligiran,” Garcia said.

(Don’t worry. There can always be a compromise between profit, business, and our obligation to the environment.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News