Election day littering dismays EcoWaste
THE EcoWaste Coalition has named Bulacan and Metro Manila as the areas with rampant littering on election day.
“We are dismayed by the unrestrained littering, especially of unofficial sample ballots, in some polling centers,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition, “as if litterbugs were having a field day.”
Lucero blamed the unchecked dissemination of unofficial sample ballots outside the voting precincts for the mess.
“The unlawful distribution of sample ballots during the actual polling day by paid individuals has resulted to the ugly litter often seen at school gates and immediate surroundings,” she said.
Lucero said that even children are used to hand out sample ballots to voters near school premises.
Section 3 of Comelec Resolution No. 10730 states “it is unlawful for any person or for any political party, or association of persons to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity on… Election Day.”
Aside from littered sample ballots and other campaign materials like promotional paper fans, the group’s Basura Patrollers also monitored the reckless disposal of single-use food and beverage packaging materials in polling centers, especially plastic water bottles.
Even discarded face masks were also seen.
Littering is prohibited under Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Metro Manila Development Authority Resolution No. 96-009, or the anti-littering regulation as amended, as well as in related local government ordinances banning littering in public places.
Among the polling centers visited by the EcoWaste Coalition’s Basura Patrollers were over 20 schools located in Caloocan, Makati, Manila, Navotas, Pasay, Quezon and Valenzuela Cities in Metro Manila, and Meycauayan City and the municipalities of Marilao and Sta. Maria in Bulacan. By Joel dela Torre
