Environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on has lauded former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s eco-friendly campaign, saying more candidates in the May 2022 elections should take concrete steps towards addressing the country’s mounting pollution crisis.
“This shows his deep commitment to the environment, as well as the important mission of making the campaign cleaner, safer and more orderly right up to election day,” Zero Waste Campaign Officer Jove Benosa, said on March 4, 2022, referring to Cayetano’s announcement earlier this month to launch a campaign that uses less waste and encourages supporters to recycle, among other action points.
The group urged candidates to follow Cayetano’s example and come out with their own platforms and plans for the environment, with the Philippines being known globally as one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
“It’s good for each candidate to have clear platforms and concrete contributions or solutions to our worsening pollution problem and environment crisis,” said Benosa.
Data compiled by EcoWaste Coalition reveal that single-use campaign materials increase the amount of waste generated nationwide during election years by as much as 30 to 40 percent.
This is on top of the estimated 16.6 million metric tons of waste produced by the country every year, which makes the Philippines the third-worst solid waste polluter among Southeast Asian countries.
“Aside from unsightly litter and creating illegal waste dumps, campaign waste also causes additional labor for garbage collectors, sanitation workers and other environmental personnel,” he said.
The EcoWaste Coalition pointed out that voters should view campaign waste as an election issue, saying candidates’ attitudes toward their campaigns’ environmental footprint reflect their personal values and their sincerity in championing the environment.
“Our voters should make this a benchmark for choosing candidates because it is a reflection of their personal values, and which translate to their clear programs for the environment and the worsening pollution problem in our country,” he added.
Cayetano, who is gunning for a Senate comeback in the upcoming national elections, announced on February 7 that his campaign will be an eco-friendly one with the aim of reducing waste.
