LGUs, politicians told to agree to 'litter-free' pact

CEBU, Philippines - Local chief executives, including barangay captains, have been tasked by the Department of Interior and Local Government to forge an agreement with political parties or candidates in their respective areas to adhere to a litter-free campaign.

 This as the three government agencies – the the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – have agreed to carry out the Basura-Free Election 2010 or the “Kalat Ko, Linis Ko” campaign principally through the implementation of waste reduction, segregation and proper waste disposal, among others.

 They have pledged to implement a litter-free election campaign program that seeks to address the anticipated surge of massive trash and waste during the election period.

 In the circular, they were urged to observe waste segregation during campaign sorties; clean up after each activity; get on with the campaign without damaging trees; dispose election campaign materials immediately after election day; and avoid excessive packaging of goods and single use containers.

 “It is about time for us to collectively act on the problem of election wastes which really take a heavy toll on our environment,” the directive of Secretary Puno reads.

 The directive also states that it is the responsibility of all Comelec officials, DENR and DILG field officers, and members of the National Solid Waste Management Committee to perform their mandates on solid waste management and to monitor the compliance of political parties, candidates, the voting public, and LGUs on the joint circular.

 Any local official, political party or candidate in the coming elections, who fails to observe the provisions of the directive, may face sanctions as provided for under the Local Government Code, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and other applicable laws.

 Under the joint memorandum circular, it seeks and requires would-be public servants and supporters to use resources sensibly and to properly manage waste campaign materials during election campaign and after the election period, and to include in the platform of the candidates proper waste management.

The circular was signed by DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos and Comelec Chairman Jose Armando Melo.  – THE FREEMAN