Time to clean up, again!

First, the election waste, the election basura.

At Talamban National High School, seniors like us who went to the May 12 polls early at 5 AM were rewarded with a very smooth/quick voting process that took just 10 minutes to complete!

However, from news reports, sadly, not all seniors and other voters had the same efficient electoral experience.

Definitely needing so much more improvements and changes and largely imperfect, still, we extend our thanks and commend Comelec for some notable positive improvements for the 2025 May elections.

This observation may not be true for all polling precincts, but where we were, there was no waste strewn in the school premises. The school was very clean!

Some factors responsible for observed cleaner polling areas and less waste this 2025 elections included: “1.) The active campaign of the Commission on Elections towards an eco-friendly electoral exercise; 2.) The prohibition on campaigning on May 11 and 12, including the ban on the distribution of sample ballots; 3.) The availability of trash bags or bins in high traffic spots; 4.) The constant sweeping by school janitors and the deployment of waste and sanitation workers by local governments; and 5.) The retrieval of discards such as plastic bottles by informal waste workers.”

Outside polling centers, however, there were noticeably the regular basura thrown irresponsibly by people (plastics, food leftovers, sachets, other packages), this time around, sample ballots, leaflets, other election-related materials abounded.

A significant and much-appreciated change this year is the active involvement of DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga who directed the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and its field offices nationwide to lead NOT ONLY the collection but significantly, the “repurposing, reusing, and recycling (3R) of campaign materials!”

Loyzaga, who also asked the public to help collect the election materials to send to recyclers, noted - “after all, being responsible stewards of the environment demonstrates our love for our nation and our commitment to a brighter future for all Filipinos.”

We also commend assistant secretary for Environment and EMB director Jacqueline Caancan for not only instructing “all EMB regional offices to organize post-election clean-up activities and collection of tarpaulins until May 17 or within five days after the elections” but more importantly, for “directing the regional offices to also report the quantity of recovered campaign materials and where these were sent for reuse, repurposing or recycling!”

This happy update from EMB-7:

“For the entire Region 7, ongoing pa today mga cleanup but as of today (May 16), in partnership with LGUs, DENR, COMELEC, about 4,714 kgs of post-election materials (especially tarpaulins) have been recovered which will be repurposed such as bags, bricks etc.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if between now and succeeding elections, the public/people themselves will responsibly manage their wastes always, not only during elections?

With all other Cebu City constituents, we welcome the election of known environmental and sustainable development advocate and practitioner, Engr. Nestor Archival!

We look forward not only to an inclusive, participatory waste management system and network under Sir Nestor --but to the very active commitment and implementation of initiatives, during his term, for the promotion of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals-- prosperity, peace, protection for people and planet.

When interviewed after the confirmation of his election victory, Sir Nestor mentioned that a City Hall overhaul will be among his first priorities.

Which leads us to the need to cleaning up, again, this added/second important priority – governance.

Will we see more transparent, honest, accountable governance from the newly elected?

Will we see genuine public servants finally committed to prioritizing the urgent needs of our people for food, homes, jobs, reasonable wages and work conditions, education, health and other welfare services and a healthier/cleaner/protected environment and planet?

May the elected genuine public servants walk with/for God, our people, and our planet.