‘Eco campaign’ among youth candidates urged

As another campaign period begins, a green group
has called on barangay and youth council candidates to “campaign
simply and ecologically.”

Roy Alvarez, President of the EcoWaste Coalition, said candidates
should “set a good example in green leadership and governance through
campaigning simply and ecologically.”

“Instead of wasting resources for excessive campaign leaflets, posters
and banners that will likely end up as trash, why not mount a more
personal campaign that will foster better connection between the
candidates and the grassroots?” Alvarez recommended.

The group also said that garbage disposal through open dumping, open
burning or through “sanitary” landfills and incinerators can lead to
the formation and discharge of toxic leachate, greenhouse gases,
unrelenting organic pollutants and other chemical coercion to the
environment and health of the community.

For her part, Eileen Sison, NGO Representative to the National Solid
Waste Management Commission, said that voters will look into leaders
who will implement the basic elements of community-based Zero Waste
resource management.

“We therefore suggest to candidates to commit clearly how they intend
to implement R.A. 9003 locally. Of course, they will have more
credibility if they walk their talk and adhere to garbage-free
campaigning,” added Sison.

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act states
that “the barangay is tasked to develop an ecological solid waste
management program, promote waste separation at source, enforce a
segregated collection for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste,
and establish Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) in every barangay or
cluster of barangays.”

According to the National Solid Waste Management Commission, there are
6,141 MRFs serving 6,744 barangays as of the last quarter of 2009,
which is only 16% of the 42,000 barangays across the archipelago.

Also known Ecology Center, the MRF is a basic mechanism for the
systematic management and recovery of useful discards, which would
otherwise end up in waterways, dumpsites or landfills and result to
pollution.

The EcoWaste Coalition also emphasized the need for these soon-to-be
community leaders to identify, incorporate and partner with the
informal recycling sectors, including the waste pickers, in the
implementation of R.A. 9003.

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are set on
October 25, 2010.

The filing of the certificates for candidacy is from October 1 to 13,
2010 while the campaign period starts on October 14 to 23.

Posted in: Eco Campaign