Candidates urged to consider environment ahead of 2025 midterm elections

October 1, 2024 , 12:59 AM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

(September 30, 2024) – An advocacy group on Monday called on candidates in the 2025 midterm elections to prioritize sustainability and public health in their campaigns.

With over 500,000 candidates expected to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) starting this Tuesday, EcoWaste Coalition emphasized the need to integrate environmental concerns into campaign platforms.

“We appeal to all participating individuals, political parties, and party-list groups and their supporters to show they truly care for Mother Earth and her people by giving environmental protection due importance in thoughts, words, and deeds,” said EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero in a statement.

She called on candidates to “green their campaign,” urging them to avoid wastage, reduce plastic use, and use sustainable materials.

EcoWaste Coalition also challenged candidates to avoid being a “garpol,” a term it coined that blends the words “garbage” and “politician.”

“A ‘garpol’ is a politician who pays lip service to environmental protection, squanders resources, and generates trash and pollution as long as he or she wins and wields power,” added Lucero.

Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. has been criticized by environmental groups for offering “lip service” about the climate crisis instead of concrete solutions.

EcoWaste Coalition also noted the negative impact of large motorcades and parades, which cause pollution, appealing to candidates to avoid such practices during the filing of COC.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) already reminded candidates to dispose of campaign materials properly, stressing their long-term adverse impact on the environment.

In the 2022 elections, the DENR removed over 114,000 campaign materials from trees nationwide.

The same election cycle also saw the collection of 254 tons of election-related waste—a 20% increase from the 2016 elections.

“Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, please say no to dirty and wasteful campaigning,” stressed Lucero.

(PM)

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