Comelec creates committee on environmentally sustainable elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has created the committee on environmentally sustainable elections as the poll body pushes for the use of environmental- friendly campaign materials.

"In-approve ang recommendation ng inyong lingkod para sa pagke-create ng isang kumite na tinatawag na Environmentally Sustainable Elections," Comelec chairman George Garcia said in a chance interview on Wednesday.

(The Comelec en banc has approved my recommendation to create a committee to be called Environmentally Sustainable Elections.)

Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda will be the commissioner-in-charge in the committee, he added.

"Atin din po siyang naatasan na siya ang magda-draft ng mismong guidelines, magda-draft ng mga policy direction patungkol sa kung paano maisasakatuparan ng Comelec 'yung tinatawag nating sustainable election, hindi lamang sa 2025 kung hindi sa mga susunod na mga halalan," he added.

(He was tasked to draft the guidelines and the policy directions with regards to how the Comelec will achieve a sustainable election, not only in 2025 but in succeeding polls.)

Earlier this month, Garcia floated the need to align campaign regulations, like biodegradable posters, with what was prescribed by the United Nations and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Aside from this, he said there must also be a decrease in noise pollution during the campaign and election period.

The Comelec chief earlier said that posters that do not meet Comelec requirements will be regarded as illegal posters and such violation may be grounds for disqualification.—RF, GMA Integrated News