19 July 2025, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for a zero waste and toxics-free society, has reiterated its unity with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in promoting reforms to make the elections environmentally sustainable.

The poll body on July 18, 2025 recognized partner agencies and organizations, including the EcoWaste Coalition, for their “unwavering commitment and invaluable support to the successful conduct of the 2025 national and local elections.” To honor their contributions to the democratic process, the COMELEC bared it will plant trees under the partners’ names.

The EcoWaste Coalition represented by Angelita Aguilos, Crisanto Luague, Jr. and Aileen Lucero attended the event held at the Manila Hotel Tent City to receive the Certificate of Appreciation and to affirm the environmental health network’s interest to contribute further to the COMELEC’s goal of making elections ecological and sustainable amid the planetary climate and plastic pollution crises.

EcoWaste Coalition’s representatives Angelita Aguilos and Aileen Lucero receive the Certificate of Appreciation from COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia for the group’s contributions to the 2025 midterm elections.

The group is one with COMELEC Chair George Erwin Garcia who earlier pointed out that “candidacy is not a license to destroy the environment.”

During the midterm-elections, the EcoWaste Coalition assisted the COMELEC in promoting candidates’ compliance with the Guidelines on the Use of Environmentally Sustainable Propaganda as contained in Resolution No. 11111.

Environmental health advocates from the EcoWaste Coalition with COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia at a press conference held last February 2025 at the poll body’s headquarters.

Among other provisions, the said resolution directs the use of election propaganda made of cloth, paper, cardboard or any recyclable materials, and makes it unlawful to use single-use plastics under applicable laws, rules, and relevant issuances; fireworks for election-related campaign meetings or celebratory gatherings; and styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances used in election campaign, services or events.

Towards this, the EcoWaste Coalition conducted monitoring activities before, during and after the May 12 midterm elections, keeping an eye on acts that go against laws and regulations, which seek to protect people and the environment from wasteful and polluting practices. The group constantly reminded candidates to choose recyclable and reusable non-toxic campaign materials, prevent and reduce consumption of single-use plastics, spare the trees from campaign posters, and for them to clean up their mess.

The group also drew attention to the threat posed by the ubiquitous tarpaulins made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic to humans and the ecosystems by generating data on the presence of concerning levels of cadmium and phthalate in such campaign materials as confirmed by laboratory tests. This renders PVC plastic tarpaulins as not environmentally acceptable, the group noted.

“Environmentally acceptable,” as defined in Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, refers to “the quality of being reusable, biodegradable or compostable, recyclable and non-toxic or hazardous to the environment.”

Together with other civil society organizations, the EcoWaste Coalition also launched a Green Electoral Initiative (GEI) focusing on the senatorial candidates and their views on major environmental issues affecting society and how these are addressed in their platforms, particularly in their legislative agenda.

As the COMELEC prepares for upcoming elections, the EcoWaste Coalition signified its interest and readiness to get involved, advocate and support measures that will uphold the human right to a clean, healthy,and sustainable environment throughout the democratic exercise.

“Ecological elections are an essential component of a healthy democracy,” the group emphasized.