With the country’s mid-term elections concluded, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga directed the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and its field offices nationwide to lead the collection, repurpose, reuse and recycle of campaign materials.
Loyzaga also directed DENR-EMB to work with the civic group Green Convergence and other non-government partners in reducing the ecological footprint of plastics, posters and tarpaulins, in particular.
“Organizations like Green Convergence will serve as valuable allies in this initiative, providing guidance and resources for effective recycling efforts.”
“Organizations like Green Convergence, a multi-sectoral coalition dedicated to promoting sustainable development and environmental awareness in the Philippines, will serve as valuable allies in this initiative, providing guidance and resources for effective recycling efforts,” the environment chief said.
The environment head also encourages the public to actively participate in the collection of campaign materials after the elections, ensuring that these items are sent to recyclers.
“After all, being responsible stewards of the environment demonstrates our love for our nation and our commitment to a brighter future for all Filipinos,” she stressed.
Loyzaga’s directive addresses the pressing issue of environmental pollution, particularly the alarming waste that chokes rivers and degrades natural landscapes. The materials discarded post-elections could lead to the waterways, leading to increased pollution, habitat destruction, and a decline in biodiversity.
“By repurposing campaign materials, we create economic opportunities and foster household uses that benefit our communities.”
“However, the upside of this initiative is profound,” she said. “By repurposing campaign materials, we protect biodiversity in our lands and our oceans, while at the same time create economic opportunities and foster household uses that benefit our communities.”
Following Loyzaga’s directive, DENR Assistant Secretary for Environment and EMB Director Jacqueline Caancan instructed all EMB regional offices to organize post-election clean-up activities and collection of tarpaulins until May 17 or within five days after the elections.
Caancan added that the regional offices must also report the quantity of recovered campaign materials and where these were sent for reused, repurposed or recycled.
She said that regional offices are working with local government units on the location of drop-off points, provision of information on proper recycling and upcycling techniques as well as data on the types of materials that can be repurposed, reuse and recycled.
These initiatives not only aim to alleviate the environmental impacts associated with discarded campaign materials, but they also seek to enhance community responsibility among Filipino citizens.
“In protecting our environment, responsibility lies not just with a select few, but with each and every one of us,” Loyzaga emphasized.
“It is our duty to ensure that our actions today do not compromise the future of generations to come,” she concluded.
