Pro-environment group EcoWaste Coalition (EWC) urged political aspirants to run a COVID-safe and eco-friendly campaign season as the campaogn period for national candidates started on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
“We challenge all presidential, vice presidential, senatorial, and party-list candidates to comply with essential health protocols as they garner public support to avoid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and follow an eco-friendly election rules to prevent environmental degradation,” EcoWaste Zero Waste Campaigner Jove Benosa said on Tuesday, Feb. 8.

He stressed that the candidates should follow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolutions 10730 and 10732 — which contain rules and regulations promoting fair election practices and the guidelines for in-person campaigns, rallies, meetings, conventions, and caravans.
Benosa said that Section 7 of Comelec Resolution 10730 prohibits political aspirants from posting or displaying campaign materials outside of authorized common poster areas, in public or private spaces, without the owner's consent.
Section 7 also encourages candidates and parties to use recyclable and eco-friendly materials and prohibits the attachment of campaign materials on trees, plants, shrubs, parks, and school premises.
“While the rules do not forbid parties and candidates from using plastic tarpaulins, which may contain harmful chemical ingredients like cadmium, we appeal to parties and candidates to temper their use of such problematic campaign materials, get more creative, and always keep public health and the environment in mind,” the group said.