Politicians urged to spare trees during campaign

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  - Spare the trees or face charges.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yesterday warned politicians that they could face charges if found guilty of posting or nailing campaign materials on trees.

The DENR regional office appealed to candidates and their supporters to refrain from posting or nailing election paraphernalia on trees during the campaign period.

DENR Regional Technical Director Jovito Layugan said that destroying or injuring trees planted along public roads, plazas, parks, school premises or any public ground is prohibited.

“Any person found violating this law will be punished by prison correctional in its minimum period to prison mayor in its minimum period,” said Layugan in an advisory emailed yesterday by the state-run Philippine Information Agency Tuguegarao City (Cagayan) regional office.

“We will remove these campaign materials without prior notice,” he warned.

Layugan called on the public to report to the nearest DENR or satellite office in the region any violations, stressing, “The success of our campaign lies in your hands.”

The prohibition, the DENR said, also applies to the business sector posting advertisements and billboards to the detriment of trees along national highways and other public places.

“We will be working with the Comelec and the police in the strict implementation of these laws in the region,” said Benjamin Tumaliuan, DENR executive director for Cagayan Valley.

Meanwhile, environmental advocates of Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNP) called on politicians yesterday not to harm Mother Earth, especially the trees, during the campaign period.

Members of the group together with lawyer Tony Oposa of the Law of Nature Foundation and other “green lawyers” all over the country threatened to file charges against those who will violate laws that protect the environment.

Former Environment secretary and EDNP chair Bebet Gozun said candidates “who want to be our leaders must show that they are law abiding citizens” who can lead with moral ascendancy.

She said they must strictly follow Presidential Decree 953 which prohibits the destruction, damaging and injuring of trees by nailing posters and other election paraphernalia on them. 

Gozun noted that such “wounds” could be the entry point for infection which could harm or eventually kill these trees. – With Michael Punongbayan