Bicol DENR warns barangay candidates not to nail election posters on trees

By Celso Amo LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Bicol has warned barangay candidates and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates not to nail their election posters on trees. “They will be liable for complaint and then for possible cases filed against them under Presidential Decree 953,” said Roberto Sheen, officer-in-charge and assistant regional director for Technical Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Bicol. Presidential Decree 953 stipulates the planting of trees in certain places and penalizing unauthorized cutting, destruction, damaging and injuring of certain trees, plants and vegetation. “Nailing election posters on trees expose the trees to harmful elements which makes them Sheen recalled that he really implemented the provision of PD 953 specifically on “destroying, damaging and injuring of trees” during elections when he was assigned in Sorsogon province. “They can just tie their election campaign materials so they can remove it after the election,” said Sheen. He said to nail election posters on trees is really prohibited because it’s the surest way to expose them to get sick. “If the trees are damaged or injured, insects can start to attack them and cause them to rot and then make them susceptible to die, depriving us to their most important contribution to absorb carbon dioxide which prevents this harmful chemical from entering our respiratory system,” he said “Let us treat trees as human beings like us and not let them get hurt, suffer and then let them die unnecessarily,” Sheen added. Atty. Annie Romero-Cortez, Albay acting provincial election supervisor, said the barangay and sangguniang kabataan registration started April 14 and ends on April 20. “Registration is still going on now,” said Romero-Cortez. Some 677 candidates for barangay chairman as well as 4,580 sangguniang bayan candidates including 354 SK chairman candidates and 1,232 SK member candidates have filed their certificates of candidacy for 720 barangays in Albay from April 14 to 17.