The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 is reminding all candidates in the coming May 2022 elections to be mindful of the environment and spare the trees from their campaign materials and other campaign activities.
“The campaign materials should always have their designated posting areas, but not on the trees. The use of iron nails or gun tacker will only injure or damage the health condition of the trees. It would cut through the trees’ protective bark and pierces the inside of a tree, which causes the entry of harmful organisms. Some studies found that it could even cause cancer on trees,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.
“We also encourage the candidates to recycle their campaign materials after the election or perhaps, eliminate the use of single-use plastics/wastes by going digital with their campaign,” he added.
Section 3 of Presidential Decree 953 prohibits the cutting, destroying, damaging or injuring of naturally grown and planted trees of any kind unless it is necessary for public safety. The law also prescribe punishment for violators with six months but not more than two years of imprisonment, or with a fine of not less than five hundred pesos but not more than five thousand pesos, or with both such imprisonment than fine at the discretion of the court.
The DENR 6 warned that campaign materials posted on trees will be removed immediately without prior notice and regardless of who the owners are. (DENR-6)
