Iloilo City Turns Over 5 Tons of Campaign Waste for Recycling

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

More than five tons of used campaign materials collected across Iloilo City will be recycled into useful items as part of the city government’s post-election cleanup and sustainability drive.

Engr. Neil Ravena, head of the Iloilo City General Services Office (GSO), said the tarpaulins and plastic-based materials used during the midterm elections will be repurposed instead of being sent to landfills.

Some tarpaulins will be turned over to waste pickers at the Calajunan Sanitary Landfill, while low-density plastics will go to a consolidator contracted to create Dinagyang Festival stages from recycled plastics.

“These tarpaulins have a temporary containment area because we’re preparing them for processing,” Ravena said.

“We’ve endorsed many to the Calajunan Waste Pickers Association to be transformed into recycled bags,” he added.

GSO teams launched the recycling initiative on Tuesday, May 13, collecting more than 900 kilograms of waste on the first day.

They gathered an additional 1.14 tons on Wednesday, 2.6 tons on Thursday, and at least 1 ton from coastal barangays.

“The coastal areas are very important,” Ravena said.

“We have 36 coastal barangays, and we don’t want these plastics reaching our coastline.”

He noted that one challenge is retrieving campaign materials posted on private property.

“I’d like to appeal to the public to help us take down these campaign materials, especially those in areas we can’t access,” he said.

“We also ask local and national candidates to instruct their teams to remove materials that have become an eyesore.”

Under Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, candidates and party-list groups must remove campaign materials posted outside designated areas or after the campaign period.

Despite this legal mandate, Mayor Jerry Treñas directed personnel from the GSO and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to begin removing campaign materials citywide starting May 13.

“This initiative is part of our commitment to restoring cleanliness and order in Iloilo City following the election season,” Treñas said.

“We urge everyone to cooperate and support our efforts toward a cleaner, more orderly environment for all Ilonggos.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 thanked local government units in Western Visayas for actively supporting the post-election “Oplan Baklas.”

Oplan Baklas, in line with Section 30 of Commission on Elections Resolution No. 11086, mandates the removal of campaign materials after elections, without requiring prior notice to LGUs.

“This initiative is a strong step toward environmental sustainability,” said DENR 6 OIC Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla.

“We commend LGUs that quickly deployed their Oplan Baklas teams.”

Lorilla said DENR field offices, along with Environmental Monitoring Officers (EnMOs) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), assisted LGUs in the cleanup.

As of press time, partial data show 1,667.29 kilograms of recovered tarpaulins from Iloilo, Capiz, and Negros Occidental.

Data from Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras are still being consolidated by the EMB Region 6 Solid Waste Management Office.

Before the elections, many LGUs also supported DENR’s call to protect trees from campaign materials.

This effort led to the removal of illegally nailed posters, helping preserve the region’s natural environment.

“We are encouraged by the swift action of our LGUs,” Lorilla said.

“Their enforcement of environmental rules and mobilization of personnel were key to the success of this campaign.”

Nailing materials to trees not only mars the landscape but also harms trees, making them vulnerable to pests and diseases and causing stunted growth.

This damage affects urban greenery and can reduce air quality.

Presidential Decree 953 prohibits the cutting, destruction, or injury of planted trees, flowering plants, and vegetation of scenic value.

“Trees provide us with clean air, shade, and help regulate our climate,” Lorilla said.

“Protecting them from unnecessary harm is our shared responsibility.”

Now that the midterm election is over, DENR 6 hopes the post-election cleanup sets an example of responsible waste management and sparks greater environmental awareness among Western Visayas residents.

“While removing campaign materials is a legal requirement, we must be mindful of the environmental impact,” Lorilla added.

“These materials are often made of non-biodegradable plastics and contribute significantly to pollution if not properly handled.” (With a report from DENR-6)