Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICEILOCOS NORTE

DENR Provincial Building, Giron Street corner Castro Avenue, 2900 Laoag City
Tel. Nos. (077) 772-0254; (077)770-3439; Fax No. (077) 771-1475; E-mail: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Basura Free Elections 2013: Kalat Ko, Sisinupin Ko Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01 DENR- DILG- COMELEC

REPORT
RATIONALE On April 2, 2013, the DENR, DILG, and the COMELEC entered into an agreement intended to manage and reduce the volume of wastes/garbage generated during the conduct of national and local elections. As such, The Honorable Secretaries Ramon J.P. Paje, Mar Roxas, and Chairman Sixto Brillantes signed the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2013- 01 otherwise known as Basura- Free Elections 2013 Campaign, with the theme Kalat Ko, Sisinupin Ko. Under the agreement, the three government agencies have expressed their commitments in implementing the campaign. As stated in the JMC, the DENR is responsible for the implementation of RA 9003 and RA 3571. Thus, the DENR being tasked to disseminate the JMC to all its regional and provincial offices, the PENRO Ilocos Norte upon receiving the copy of the JMC, has acted immediately for its implementation. On the other hand, the PENRO Ilocos Norte- led Operation Baklas: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako has been being implemented for the last three election periodsthe 2007 midterm elections, 2010 general/presidential elections, and recently the 2013 midterm elections. As a strategy, PENRO led a composite team of state agencies such as the COMELEC, PNP, DPWH, and non- government organizations (NGOs) in implementing the Operation Baklas. Likewise, the academe, business sectors, and religious groups, and different media outfits have also actively participated. The Operation Baklas is designed to implement R.A. 3571 and PD 953, the laws prohibiting the cutting, injuring, and destruction of planted and growing trees and plants along public roads, plazas, parks, school premises and public grounds.

Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

SUMMARY As the campaign period for electoral candidates drew near, the DENR- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Ilocos Nore have begun to draw up plans to ensure that campaign materials are posted within designated areas and that trees are spared. The Operation Baklas 2013 was again re-launched on February 12, 2013, just in time for the kick off of the campaign period. During the launch, the different government agencies and non government organizations expressed their support by signing a covenant declaring their pledge to protect and save the trees, as well as help minimize wastes especially during the conduct of elections. The re- launching was highlighted by the signing of the Declaration to SAVE the TREES and REDUCE POLLUTION and DETERIORATION of the ENVIRONMENT by the different participants to the operation. The declaration, has stated primarily among others, that the signatories therein pledge to advise and urge the various levels of government including politicians and candidates to the 2013 elections to give environmental protection the highest appropriate priority during the course of the campaign; and when elected, in terms of legislation and resources, and to promptly accept and comply with all environment laws and obligations. Because of early preparations, trees in Ilocos Norte are virtually campaign materials- free during the 2013 election season. The two truckloads of campaign materials which the implementers have collected were generally removed from non-common poster areas. This year, the Operation Baklas implementers only removed about less than one half of a kilo of nails used to tuck or install election paraphernalia on trees as compared in 2007 and 2010 elections where voluminous kilograms of nails were removed.The significant decrease of nails removed from trees is an indication that the DENR- PENRO fairly did its job in safeguarding the trees. On the other hand, politicians have learned their lessons from the past and heeded warnings that PENRO Ilocos Norte and its partner agencies are serious in implementing the Operation Baklas.

Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

OPERATION BAKLAS 2013 HIGHLIGHTS IN PICTURES

On February 7, 2013 PENRO Juan P. de los Reyes, Jr. has called a meeting with the Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako implementers at PENRO Conference Hall. The implementers include COMELEC, PNP, DPWH, NGOs, the academe, religious sectors, and media outfits.

The Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako was re- launched on February 11, 2013 just in time for the kick off of the campaign period where different government agencies and non government organizations expressed their support by signing a covenant declaring their pledge to protect and save the trees. Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Joel Gines delivers a message to the memberimplementers of the Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako during the relaunching on February 12, 2013 at the Aurora Park, Laoag City. During the brief program, Atty. Gines expressed his gratitude to PENRO Ilocos Norte for spearheading the activity admitting that COMELEC alone could not implement the Baklas Operations as they lack the personnel to conduct the operations.

The re-launching was highlighted by the signing of the Declaration to SAVE the TREES and REDUCE POLLUTION and DETERIORATION of the ENVIRONMENT by the different participants to the operation. In the picture is a PNP Chief of Police signing the covenant as other participants of Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako witnesses the signing. Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

On April 11, 2013, PENRO Juan P. de los Reyes, Jr. has called the Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako implementers for a press conference with the different media outfits to announce that the baklas operations will be conducted on April 22, 2013 spontaneous to the celebration of Earth Day.

Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

Considering the importance of media partnership, PENRO Ilocos Norte has involved the media for the implementation of the Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako. Thus, before the actual baklas operations, PENR Officer Juan P. de los Reyes, Jr. raised public awareness of the activity through IEC such as radio and TV interviews.

The Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno, Tanggal Pako was actually conducted on April 22, 2013. Photo shows a life size tarpaulin poster nailed on a Gmelina tree along the Maharlika Highway removed by DENR- PENRO employees.

Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

Employees of the DPWH remove election posters nailed/tucked on bamboo plants and transmission lines located along the highway during the baklas operations on April 22, 2013.

Photo shows some posters which were collected during the operation baklas. Accordingly, a significant decline of posters nailed on trees was recorded due to IEC and public awareness activities prior to the actual baklas operations.

The two truckloads of campaign materials which the implementers have collected were generally removed from non-common poster areas. Accordingly the implementers removed only about less than one half of a kilo of nails used to tuck or install election paraphernalia on trees as compared in 2007 and 2010 elections where voluminous kilograms of nails were removed. Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page

A line of Eucalyptus trees like this one which is situated in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte are election paraphernalia- free as compared to other provinces where trees located along major highways are tattered with election posters. PENRO- Ilocos Norte has led Operation Baklas 2013: Sagip Puno Tanggal Pako to pre-empt nailing or tucking campaign materials on trees especially along the major thoroughfares of Ilocos Norte.

A line of Gmelina trees located in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte spared from election materials. Operation Baklas 2013, which is designed to implement R.A. 3571 and PD 953, the laws prohibiting the cutting, injuring, and destruction of planted and growing trees and plants along public roads, plazas, parks, school premises and public grounds. The activity was led by PENRO Ilocos Norte along with Comelec, DPWH, PNP, different Media outfits, and MMSU. The primary purpose of Operation Baklas is to minimize garbage and to inflict as little damage on the environment especially the trees, toward the end of the elections and that by 2016 and elections beyond, all trees in Ilocos Norte are totally spared from campaign materials. Accordingly, some local and international tourists have noted that trees situated along the major thoroughfares of Ilocos Norte are virtually election paraphernalia- free. Join the National Greening Program Plant TREES WEBSITE: http:/www.r1.denr.gov.ph EMAIL ADDRESS: penro_inorte@yahoo.com

Page