THE Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Liloy in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the police conducted “Oplan Baklas” in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, an official said Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Cidur Julsadjiri, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), said the Oplan Baklas was conducted Monday, April 11, 2022, along the municipal boundaries of Salug, Labason and Tampilisan.

Julsadjiri said that campaign is in compliance to the Memorandum of DENR Secretary Jim Sampulna to intensify an environmentally-conscious national campaign by prohibiting the posting or nailing of campaign materials on trees.

"Oplan Baklas is being implemented nationwide under a DENR-COMELEC- DILG Joint Memorandum for a joint implementation and tear down or confiscate campaign materials posted on trees,” Julsadjiri said.

Dionisio Rago, head of Cenro-Liloy, said that the collected signages, tarpaulin, posters and other election campaign materials were turned-over to the Municipal Police Station of Liloy for inventory and assessment.

Rago added that Oplan Baklas is in compliance with Republic Act No. 3571 and Presidential Decree 953 wherein it prohibits posting or installing campaign materials on trees, anyone found guilty of violating this law may be imprisoned, fined, or both.

He said they will work closely with concerned government agencies to ensure the success of an environmentally-conscious national election. (SunStar Zamboanga)