'Harm not the trees': Environmental orgs urge candidates to keep trees poster-free

As the election nears, even trees suffer from aspiring politicians who market with no shame.

Environmental groups in a joint statement on Feb. 12 urged all candidates for national and local posts to spare the trees from campaign materials. 

Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and EcoWaste Coalition stressed how vital trees are to nature and people, pointing out the need to work together to keep them safe.

“Nailing, pinning, and stapling campaign banners and posters to trees can cause stress and harm to these irreplaceable partners in making our communities healthy, livable, and sustainable,” said Atty. Mark Peñalver, executive director at IDIS. “Harm not the trees. Nurture and protect them instead.”

Such ill-mannered and unlawful acts, Peñalver said, can make trees vulnerable to insects and diseases leading to shorter life, decay, and ultimately death.

“As the election campaign goes full blast, we ask all candidates and their supporters to abide by ecological and legal practices and save our trees and the environment as a whole from abuse and disrespect. Torture not the trees. Please keep them banner- and poster-free,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator at EcoWaste Coalition.

Laws for the unlawful 

Putting banners and posters on trees is banned and punishable by law. 

As read in Comelec Resolution No. 11111, “posting of campaign materials on planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in any other public ground, which shall cause destruction or injury thereto, shall be strictly prohibited.”

This prohibition follows Republic Act No. 3571, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 953, which penalizes violators with six months to two years in prison, a fine of ₱500 to ₱5,000, or both as decided by the court.

“If the offender is a public officer or employee, he shall, in addition, be dismissed from the public service and disqualified perpetually to hold public office,” the law stated.

As per Comelec Resolution No. 11086, “In cases where parties and candidates still persist in displaying, posting, or exhibiting their campaign or election propaganda on trees and plants, they shall be prosecuted for violation of these rules, without prejudice to the institution of a criminal complaint for the violation of Republic Act No. 3571.”

For clean and responsible campaigning, IDIS and EcoWaste demand that candidates comply with the guidelines on using sustainable election propaganda in Resolution No. 11111.

“We urge all candidates and their supporters to heed the Comelec guidelines to make the midterm elections environmentally caring as much as possible,” the organizations said.