Press Release
1 March 2022
Ka Leody to use eco-friendly campaign materials, challenges others to follow suit
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) presidential bet Ka Leody de Guzman issued a “green challenge” to fellow aspirants for the presidency by avoiding the use of non-biodegradable materials and by lessening the carbon footprint of their campaign.
De Guzman announced Tuesday that all his campaign materials will be biodegradable, and called on his supporters to be conscious against worsening to the problems of pollution and climate change.
He said, “Bilang pagsasakongkreto ng ating paninindigan at plataporma para sa kalikasan, gagamit tayo ng biodegradable materials sa ating mga campaign paraphernalia. Sa tindi ng problema ng bansa sa polusyon at krisis sa klima, hindi sapat ang paglalagay lamang ng mga isyu’t kahilingan sa plataporma, ang kailangan ay kagyat na aksyon. Dapat konsistent ang ating ginagawa sa ating sinasabi”.
De Guzman also challenged other candidates, from presidentiables down to town councilors, to pro-actively resist from using cheaper yet environmentally destructive materials, and to include environmental concerns in their platforms of governance.
“Ang paggamit sa mga materyales na hindi nakakapinsala sa kalikasan ay bahagi ng isinusulong nating electoral reforms. Isang krusyal na aspeto nito ay ang pag-akto ng Comelec sa pagtataas sa awareness ng mga botante ukol sa mga kamdidato’t plataporma. Talikuran ang makalat, marumi, at magastos na kampanyang pumapabor sa mga bilyonaryong tumutustos sa election expenses ng mga kandidato para proteksyunan ang kanilang mga negosyo,” the labor leader explained.
De Guzman’s environmental agenda includes the phasing out of coal-fired and incinerator power plants, a just transition to a green economy, a ban against destructive extractive industries such as mining and logging, reparations from the Global North for their climate debts to vulnerable countries, among others.
Ka Leody’s political party, which is also participating in the 2022 partylist elections, is fielding national and local candidates under the Labor and Environment Advocates for Democracy (LEAD) slate. The PLM senatoriables include labor leader Luke Espiritu and environmental advocates Roy Cabonegro and David D’ Angelo.##
