Candidates and group started turning campaign materials into usable objects following the conclusion of the 2025 midterm elections.
After the high-stakes polls in which political aspirants and reelectionists jostled for positions in public service, tarpaulins were given the spotlight by some personalities and entities.
Taytay, Rizal Councilor Tobit Cruz on Tuesday, May 13 said that his team is already on the process of removing his tarpaulins following his successful bid for reelection.
“Kung may tarp ko po kayo na nakasabit sa bahay niyo na kaya na po ninyong matanggal, makikisuyo na lang po. Para ‘pag dumaan kami sa inyo, pwede niyo na lang pong iabot sa amin,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Kagaya ng ginagawa natin kada eleksyon, we will turn these tarps into bags. Pampa-thank you natin sa mga volunteers, at ambag na natin sa kalinisan,” Cruz added.
Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan also said his team have likewise started removing his tarpaulins.
He also requested for his supporters to remove their tarpaulins of him as well.
“Ang mga nabaklas na poster, tarpaulin at iba pang campaign materials ay ibibigay po natin sa Caloocan City Environmental Management Department (CEMD) upang ma-recycle at magawang upuan na mapapakinabangan naman ng ating mga mag-aaral,” the city chief said.
Caloocan City Councilor Tess Ceralde also said her team has started removing her tarpaulins and other campaign materials following the election.
“Kaisa ni Mayor Along Malapitan, atin po itong ibibigay sa City Environment upang mai-recycle at mapakinabangan pa sa iba pang paraan,” she said.
Micai Alvarado, owner of the Micacaiba Productions, also urged Filipinos to donate any tarps, flyers, and posters to them so they could recycle it into bags and organizers.
The Paglaum Youth Laboratory Cooperative also said it is open to receiving used tarpaulins in the campaign into “reusable bags and other purposeful items.”
“This is our way of joining the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Movement and minimizing waste that ends up in our landfills,” it said.
Wonderhome Naturals, a sustainable homecare line, shared ways on how tarpaulins and other campaign materials can be recycled in different ways like being used as a garden mat or roof cover, as functional everyday carriers, and as waterproof mats.
Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Tuesday also conducted a post-election cleanup to send candidates a “strong” message about political accountability and environmental responsibility.
Crisanto Luague, the coalition’s Zero Waste Campaigner, reminded national and local candidates to clean up after the election and comply with election-related waste regulations.
“Candidates should not disappear after Election Day. The mess they leave behind speaks volumes and the least they can do is clean it up,” he was quoted as saying.
Luague said that widespread litter of campaign posters, tarpaulins, and streamers is a recurring problem every election season.
“Win or lose, candidates must take the lead in post-election cleanups and demonstrate true leadership by taking responsibility for the waste they generated,” he said, adding that the “cycle of waste and neglect has to end.”
