Campaign pollution

Politicians polluting public spaces with their campaign materials are not only bad for aesthetics and the environment; they are also bad for your health.

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

That's right, health. In the second half of this year, two water treatment plants in Metro Manila had to be shut down, one for 15 hours and the other for up to 30 hours.

The reason: the plants had to be cleared of foreign contaminants consisting mostly of paint and "cosmetic" materials such as chemicals and dyes.

Certain environment officials believe the contaminants came from the rising production of tarpaulins for the 2025 midterm elections.

So it's no joke that politicians who are now plastering their campaign materials on every available public space should be charged with littering and environmental degradation.

Last Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) released guidelines for campaign activities, encouraging candidates to use environment-friendly and recyclable materials. Candidates and political parties must include in their campaign materials the declaration: "This material should be recycled or disposed of responsibly."

The Comelec also reminded candidates about intellectual property rights when putting together campaign materials, such as those using music and video.

The guidelines did not address the posting at this time of campaign materials in public spaces where the display would be prohibited during the official campaign period. Since the Supreme Court has ruled that there is no such thing as premature campaigning, the Comelec has left it to local governments to get rid of such materials, based on anti-littering ordinances.

We know the problem here: in most places, local officials (along with the administration's national candidates) lead in the posting of such materials wherever they please.