‘It’s clear that many political parties and candidates, both winners and losers in the recent 2025 midterm elections, openly disregarded Comelec Resolution No. 11086.’
OVER the weekend, I had an interesting experience during an overnight stay in Real, Quezon, upon the invitation of Rev. Fr. Bong Eloriaga, the Adamson University vice president for finance and a dear friend. Real is the hometown of the newly elected Mayor, Julie Ann Macasaet, and the province is led by Gov. Helen Tan and Vice Gov. Third Alcala.
The drive from Manila, where voters recently chose to reinstate Isko Moreno as mayor over erstwhile Mayor Honey Lacuna, took almost four hours. The route, especially as you enter Sumulong Highway through Antipolo (home city to Mayor Junjun Ynares) and onto Manila East Road, is quite winding. This continues into the province of Laguna, now led by Gov. Sol Aragones (who, like myself, remains a journalist at heart) and Vice Gov. JM Carait up to Real, Quezon.
What struck me during the drive from Antipolo to Real, more than the zigzagging roads that almost made Fr. Eloriaga and my eldest son, Milo Burgos, witness my motion sickness, was the sheer number of campaign tarpaulins. It was disheartening to see so many of these materials compared to the number of trees along the way.
It’s clear that many political parties and candidates, both winners and losers in the recent 2025 midterm elections, openly disregarded Comelec Resolution No. 11086. This sadly makes a mockery of the efforts by Comelec under Chairman Boy George Garcia.
Section 7 of Resolution No. 11086 encourages all political parties and candidates to use recyclable and environment-friendly materials, thereby avoiding campaign materials with hazardous chemicals.
Professor Jayson Marticio, your point about the importance of the Completed Staff Work seems particularly relevant here. It appears the Comelec’s Technical Working Group may have overlooked this when drafting and recommending Resolution No. 11086.
Many campaign tarpaulins we see everywhere are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can contain cadmium, a known carcinogen. The Eco Waste Coalition has even found that plastic scraps used for these tarpaulins contained cadmium levels exceeding the limits set by the European Commission.
Cadmium poses serious health risks, including kidney damage and skeletal issues, and persists in the environment, affecting various life forms. Carcinogenic substances, as we know, increase the risk of cancer. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported collecting over 11 metric tons of campaign materials in Metro Manila alone after the May 12 elections, many of which were made of PVC containing these harmful chemicals.
Perhaps it’s time for the Comelec to move beyond mere encouragement and introduce “environmental fees” for political parties and candidates. Levying these “green fees” could address several critical issues:
1. Reduce Environmental Impact: Fees can incentivize the use of eco-friendly campaign materials and practices, minimizing waste and pollution.
2. Promote Sustainability: Candidates would be encouraged to consider the environmental impact of their campaigns, leading to more sustainable choices like recyclable materials.
3. Generate Revenue for Environmental Projects: The collected fees could fund vital environmental initiatives such as reforestation and waste management.
4. Raise Public Awareness: Implementing these fees would highlight environmental issues during elections, encouraging greater focus on sustainability.
5. Encourage Responsible Campaigning: Candidates might adopt more mindful and cleaner campaign strategies if they are financially responsible for their environmental footprint.
Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Chiz Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Speaker Martin Romualdez and Navotas Congressman Toby Tiangco, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this matter.
