Tricycles become mobile poster boards for bets of barangay polls

As the campaign period for the Oct. 25 barangay (village) and
Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections progressed, tricycles
and pedicabs in parts of Metro Manila were turned into mobile poster
boards.

In Manila, stickers of candidates were placed on the rear of tricycles
in the Intramuros and Malate districts.

But some pedicabs and tricycles became virtual common poster areas,
with the campaign materials of entire tickets plastered in the front
part of the sidecar.

The campaign period got off to a festive but messy start Thursday,
with some candidates holding street parties and others placing
campaign materials on posts and even hanging them on electric wires.

Meanwhile, ecological activists appealed to candidates in the October
25 elections to keep their campaign clean and environment-friendly.

The EcoWaste Coalition particularly exhorted the bets not to repeat
the environmental lapses of candidates the May 10 national and local
elections.

“Let us not forget the wastefulness of the May 2010 local and national
elections and together aim for an environmentally-responsible exercise
of our right to suffrage," EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said on the
group's blog site.

“As potential leaders in the frontline of public service, we expect
all the candidates to demonstrate their commitment to protect and
preserve the community environment by campaigning 'clean and green,’"
he added.

He said some candidates in last May's elections committed "major,
major" lapses such as nailing campaign materials on trees and other
prohibited areas.

Other lapses included wasting too much campaign funds and materials,
driving smoke-belching campaign vehicles, blasting loud political
jingles and speeches, leaving trash in campaign sorties and not
removing campaign items after the polls.

"Another major, major shortcoming that we have observed was the
failure on the part of most politicians to integrate the environmental
agenda into their campaign platforms and pledges," EcoWaste added.

The group re-issued its practical guidelines for a "clean and green"
campaign, including assigning a person or team in the campaign
structure who will be responsible for greening the campaign strategies
and activities.

Candidates should refrain from using excessive campaign materials such
as leaflets, pamphlets, posters, stickers, decals, cloth and tarpaulin
streamers, and other campaign paraphernalia.

As much as possible, propaganda materials should be in post-consumer
recycled paper and carry a friendly reminder that says “para sa ating
kalusugan at kalikasan, huwag pong ikalat, itambak o sunugin" or its
equivalent in local languages.

Candidates should refrain from using campaign materials that are
hardly reused or recycled such as confetti, buntings and balloons,
which often get burned or discarded in waterways, seas and dumpsites.

Politicos should spare the trees of propaganda materials that can harm
and even kill them, and reject graffiti or vandalism to popularize
themselves.

For litter-free campaign meetings, sorties and related activities, the
EcoWaste Coalition recommends the following:


•Shun throwing confetti, exploding firecrackers or releasing balloons
in campaign events.


•Refrain from using Styrofoam, plastic bags and other single-use
containers for volunteers’ meals and drinks.


•Set up segregated waste bins for biodegradable and non-biodegradable
discards in campaign assemblies.


•Designate “eco-volunteers" to look after the bins and guide the
public in the proper separation of their discards.


•Clean up right after the campaign event.


•Hire eco-aides to handle the segregated wastes for recycling and
composting.

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