CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office here on Wednesday reminded candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to spare trees from campaign materials.
Paquito Moreno, Jr., the regional director of DENR in Central Luzon, appealed to candidates to only post campaign materials within designated common posting areas.
“We will be vigilant and remove, without hesitation, any campaign materials nailed or stapled to trees,” he said.
Moreno said even before or after the campaign period, the DENR is empowered by the law to take down any material attached to trees in a way that is damaging to the plant.
“Nailing or stapling (campaign materials on) the tree bark ‘wounds’ the tree and makes it prone to infection by various pathogens,” he said.
Moreno also reminded the poll candidates to minimize the use of plastic in the creation of their campaign posters.
According to recent study, it takes over 450 years for plastic to break down. Campaign materials usually made of plastic could end up in the oceans, or might be ingested by such marine species as sea turtles.
Commission on Elections Resolution No. 6616 deputized a task force, which includes the DENR, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Metro Manila Development Authority and other agencies, to remove campaign posters found in public places outside designated posting areas.
Comelec Resolution No. 9615 also encourages candidates to use recyclable and environment-friendly materials.
Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code also penalizes candidates found posting on prohibited locations, such as trees, with imprisonment of maximum of six years, and shall be disqualified to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.
Meanwhile, Republic Act 3571 imposes a penalty of maximum of six years prison correctional to whoever is caught destroying or injuring planted or growing trees along public roads, plazas, parks, school premises or in any public ground. (Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario/PNA)
