http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=95755
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Saturday asked candidates in the 2007 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections to take into consideration the environment during the campaign period.
The poll body’s statement comes as reports that the garbage crisis that has beset Metro Manila for several days appears to have been resolved.
"While it is good news that the garbage crisis has been averted "the mountains of trash the campaign period will generate is no laughing matter," said COMELEC spokesman and lawyer James Jimenez.
During elections numerous posters and flyers are regularly posted on walls and even trees and hanged on every imaginable area especially in Metro Manila and cities and towns centers.
"This is why we are appealing to candidates to lead by example and take steps to minimize the amount of garbage produced by their campaigns", Jimenez said. "Steps they can take include refraining from for putting up posters outsider COMELEC designated common poster areas, limiting the member of the posters to one per common poster area, and limiting the number of flyers they give out."
The poll body spokesman also took note and warned candidates of premature campaign materials that are being reported to the poll body.
"We cannot discount the power of name recall in an election campaign, but these early campaigners should warned that they may be remembered by voters, not as candidates, but as vandals who littered their community with campaign materials outside of the official campaign period," added Jimenez.
The campaign period for the synchronized polls is set on Oct. 19-27 immediately after the deadline for the filing of candidacy on Oct. 18.
Voting for the synchronized polls is set on Oct. 29.