Senator Raffy Tulfo proposed a measure seeking to ban the use of plastic tarpaulins during election campaigns in order to protect public health and promote a cleaner environment for the country.

The Senate Bill 1762 or Act Prohibiting the Use of Plastic Posters during Campaign Season amends the 'purpose of section 3 of Republic Act No. 9006' or the Fair Election Act.

"In an effort to protect the public health and help preserve a cleaner earth for the future generation, we propose to consider the prohibition of the use of plastic posters during political campaigns," Tulfo said in the explanatory note.

Citing the Eco-Waste Coalition, the senator underlined that the country has been generating more waste during election season.

"These tarpaulins mostly end up in landfills and sometimes in bodies of water too, causing pollution and flood. They do not degrade quickly and heavy-duty tarpaulins may take 1000 years to decompose," he added.

Under SB 1762, election propaganda in any form must comply with the following:

• Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers, or other written or printed materials the size of which does not exceed eight and one-half inches in width and fourteen inches in length;
• Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any particular political party or candidate for public office;
• Cloth, paper or cardboard posters whether framed, or posted, with an area not exceeding two (2) feet by three (3) feet, except that, at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally, or in announcing the holding of said meeting or rally, streamers not exceeding three (3) feet by eight (8) feet in size, shall be allowed;
• Paid advertisements in print or broadcast media; and
• All other forms of election propaganda not prohibited by the Omnibus Election Code or this Act