Nearly 600 tons of campaign material removed in Metro Manila so far — DILG

Almost 600 tons of campaign materials in the National Capital Region have been removed and collected, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), police, and local government units are leading the “Operation Baklas.”

“Umabot na sa almost 600 tons ng campaign materials ang ating natanggal dito sa pakikipagtulungan ng MMDA at local government units,” Malaya said in an interview on G TV’s Balitanghali.

Malaya said they are still waiting for the reports on the removal of campaign materials from provinces. According to him, almost all local governments are conducting the operation.

He said the DILG will give local governments a week to remove and collect campaign paraphernalia. If they fail to do so, the department will demand an explanation from them.

For Malaya, the Commission on Elections should set a program that will encourage candidates to remove their own campaign materials after the conduct of polls.

“Magandang mungkahi yan sa Comelec na sana na mahikayat ng Comelec ang mga kandidato maging part ito ng kanilang corporate social responsibility kumbaga, manalo man o matalo,” he said.

(That would be a great proposal for the Comelec to encourage candidates to make the removal of their own campaign materials as part of their corporate social responsibility, win or lose.) — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News