MANILA, Feb. 7 — The elections campaign period has always been regarded as a peak garbage season, and for that reason, the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) has drawn up a program that would compel national and local candidates to clean up their mess after the polls.
In a statement, Assistant Secretary for Local Government Concerns and Lands and NSWMC Executive Director Gerardo V. Calderon said they are closely coordinating with candidates, both for national and local elective posts, concerning compliance with a new program designed to ensure a “zero-waste 2010 election.”
In launching the “Linis Mo, Basura Mo” program, Calderon said they are currently working on the implementing rules and guidelines for the candidates and other partisan groups to observe for the duration of the campaign period until after the elections.
Calderon explained that the program would be a joint undertaking among the NSWMC, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
He also said that the program is primarily intended to encourage a zero waste election in 2010 by way of enjoining candidates (regardless of whether they won or lost their bids), to clean up whatever election materials they have placed in public places, including parks and streets.
“While we are used to the traditional campaigning which involves posters, streamers, banners, stickers, flyers, among many other forms, we should realize that these materials form the biggest chunk of garbage for the duration of the campaign period and beyond — thus choking our environment,” Calderon added.
The NSWMC and the DILG are expected to issue a joint circular on the implementation of the program anytime this month.
The campaign period for the national candidates begins on February 9. (PNA) scs/HCT