Green is in for the May, 2010 elections.

A survey conducted by the Green Electoral Initiative (GEI) led by EcoWaste Coalition and Greenpeace among presidential candidates for the May 10, 2010 automated elections, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas garnered the “greenest” mark with 8.7 points, followed by Sen. Jamby Madrigal with 7.8 points. Gordon finished third with 7.2 points.

Bangon Pilipinas bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva scored 4.8 points, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar both got 3.6 points, while Ang Kapatiran bet Olongapo City Councilor JC de los Reyes got 2.7 points.

Estrada and Teodoro automatically got zero points for not responding to the survey.

Perlas, Madrigal, and Gordon obtained the highest marks among the respondents for their clear, comprehensive and progressive positions and plans on protecting the country’s water resources.

“This is the first in a series of ‘green’ rankings that we will release to inform the voters how those aspiring to lead our nation intend to tackle the country’s environmental woes such as the declining quality and quantity of our freshwater sources due to the continued generation and discharge of pollutants from household, agricultural and industrial sources,” Manny Calonzo of the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out.

In another survey conducted by the League of the Youth for the Environment (LYFE), a University of the Philippine-based alliance of environmental groups, it ranked Madrigal and Perlas first and second, respectively, in its list of greenest candidates. At third is Villar.

Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon, former President Joseph Estrada, and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earned the “mean” list.

The result of the LYFE survey “Environment Vote 2010: Who’s the greenest of them all?” aims to help voters choose the most pro-people and pro-environment political leaders in the coming May, 2010 national elections.

“The people have the right to know their candidates’ stand and track record on critical environmental issues to help the voters choose and put in office the most pro-people and pro-environment leaders,” LYFE convenor Loi Manalansan said.

The LYFE survey also showed that among the vice presidential bets, Senator Loren Legarda, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, and former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chief Perfecto Yasay were on top of the green list, while broadcaster Jay Sonza and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando were at the tailend.

A similar ranking for senatoriables had Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, and socio-political analyst Rizalito David in the green, while former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, Agusan del Norte Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza, former National Economic Development Authority director-general Ralph Recto, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in the “mean” list.

For those running for party-list, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Katribu, Akbayan, and CIBAC landed positively in the green list based on their replies to questionnaires.