CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — An environment official yesterday appealed to political candidates in Central Luzon not to use the trees along the highways in their political propaganda and avoid sticking or nailing campaign materials on trees.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Director Maximo O. Dichoso said “candidates should stick to environment-friendly campaigning to ensure clean and orderly elections in the coming polls.

A number of candidates nail their campaign materials on trees along the highways, which are not only eyesores but also distract motorists’ attention.

Dichoso said well-meaning candidates and their supporters, even as they run on environmental platforms, should be mindful of the environment and resort to using recyclable and biodegradable campaign materials.

“The idea is to minimize garbage and to inflict as little damage on the environment and trees toward the end of the elections,” he said.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje earlier called on political candidates to place waste avoidance and reduction at the heart of their strategies to win, and to stick to earth-friendly campaign practices to ensure a waste-free election.

“Let us change the face of Philippine politics with clean elections defined not only by an intelligent electorate, but a trash-free one as well,” Paje said in a statement.

He reminded the government’s long-standing appeal to spare the trees of campaign materials, saying trees are also living creatures that could get hurt or sick, or die if left untreated for a long time.

Under Commission on Elections Resolution No. 6520 or the Implementing Rules of the Fair Election Act, common poster areas are established by election officers and local government units in public places such as plazas, markets, or barangay centers where posters may be placed.

The poll body prohibits the posting of campaign materials on trees, schools, shrines, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, bridges, and islands of roads and highways, including waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, and electric posts, among others.

Candidates of parties are also prohibited from sticking campaign materials on ambulances, patrol cars, and government vehicles, particularly those bearing red license plates.

Violation of these rules would constitute an election offense punishable under Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code.