Thank people by serving honestly, poll winners told

An environmental watchdog told winning political candidates to stop putting up “thank you” tarpaulins on major thoroughfares, but instead thank their constituents by serving honestly.

The waste and pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition said poll winners can say “thank you” to their constituents without putting up banners and tarpaulins that harm environment and add to visual pollution.

"Above all, the most meaningful 'thank you' that politicians can make is to offer the people a real honest-to-goodness public service minus self-aggrandizement and corruption," Manny Calonzo of EcoWaste Coalition said.

Politicians can thank voters by organizing various charities supported by party funds, Calonzo said, “such as feeding programs for street children, the elderly and the indigents.” He also stressed that Styropor food containers should not be used for the occasion so as not to add to the garbage problem.

He added that the funds meant for tarpaulins and banners can be used instead to support charitable causes. He mentioned the children cancer ward of the Philippine General Hospital, and fire victims that left thousands of families in Barangay Damayang Lagi in Quezon City and Barangay Cupang in Muntinlupa City homeless.

The group lamented the volume of trash generated by campaign materials during the last elections and the politicians’ indifference to join the clean up drive.

“Please understand that we have yet to clear the streets of campaign materials used in the last election and here you are aggravating the mess with a new wave of tarpaulins,” Calonzo said.

He noted that several busy streets in Pasay City such as Arnaiz, C. Jose, F. B. Harrison and Zamora are still filled with campaign materials even days after elections.

“They [politicians] surely can express their gratitude by going out of the streets and leading community 'bayanihan' to remove and recycle unsightly campaign materials,” Calonzo said.

Eco volunteers reported to have noticed the appearance of so many “thank you” messages placed in major hubs and thoroughfares as well as pedestrian overpasses and footbridges.

“Thank you” tarpaulins have been spotted in various parts of the metropolis such as in España Blvd., Lacson Ave., Ongpin St., Roxas Blvd. and Plaza Miranda in Manila, Quezon Memorial Circle, E. Rodriguez Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City, 9 de Febrero St. and Martinez St. in Mandaluyong City, and SLEX, Parañaque City.