THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded local government officials and candidates on Tuesday, May 14, to immediately clean up and dispose of campaign paraphernalia.
“Tapos na po ang halalan at nakapili na ang mga mamamayan kung sino sa palagay nila ang karapat-dapat na magsagwan sa kanila tungo sa tunay na pagbabago (The elections are over and the voters have chosen). The immediate task at hand is to call on your supporters to clean up and rid our communities of poll trash,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“Win or lose, show that you are a good sport and that you have the best intentions for your communities by being part of the clean-up drive in your areas,” he added.
Año said the local government units together with the Sanitation Division or Environmental Management Office should unite in cleaning up the mess left by the just concluded 2019 midterm elections.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said over 145 tons of trash, including campaign posters and materials, have been collected all over the Metro.
It said Manila, Quezon City, Parañaque, Makati and Caloocan yielded the largest volumes of garbage.
Año says cleaning up election trash will not only make the surroundings clean but “will also be an opportunity for our people to gather and work together, turn a new page, and look forward to more good things for our people and for our nation.”
“Ipakita natin na masinop at may disiplina tayong mga Pilipino. Alisin na natin ang anumang bahid ng katatapos na eleksyon at magsimula tayo ng malinis ang ating kapaligiran at malinis ang ating hangarin sa paglilingkod,” he says.
He said clean up operations particularly in schools which were used as polling centers should be immediately done in preparation for the opening of classes in June.
Año said it is also in preparation to the upcoming rainy season as the trash might clog canals and waterways, which may later cause flooding.
“Mas magiging malala ang sitwasyon kapag umulan dahil siguradong magdudulot ng baha ang basurang ikinalat natin kaya kumilos na agad tayo,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)