PBEST’s stand in response to DENR’s push for “Garbage-Free” Elections:

The Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) supports the call of the DENR for a “garbage-free” elections. Sadly, it appears that those eyeing to be leaders of our country are getting more irresponsible elections after elections as the issue is not anymore confined to improper materials or posting, but nowadays includes adverse environmental impacts.

What happens during the campaign season truly reflects the sorry state of the Philippine environment and environmental policy-making in our government. Indeed, how can we arrest the decline of the quality of our environment when our supposed role models lead the way in its degradation? How do we also expect good environmental policies when the policy makers themselves show no regard for the environment? Unfortunately, this irony, of candidates being no. 1 rule-breakers, ultimately concerns the quality of lives of millions of Filipinos.

Perhaps, there is no more hope of reforming these irresponsible aspirants. What is for certain, however, is that the solution lies in each and every one of us, just like in any environmental problem. Like the crisis we experience in our environment, the challenge of electing good leaders is cyclical, as it is systemic.
– Mr. Ysan Castillo, Secretary General (PBEST)

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