BUGALLON—”Please spare the trees”.

This was the message sent out by the provincial office of the Commission on Election as they again reminded candidates to refrain from posting campaign materials in areas that are not officially designated, especially nailing or stapling posters on trees along streets and highways.

Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election supervisor, cited the example done by Rizalina Estrellas, election officer of this town, which could serve as a model in the rest of the 43 towns and four cities in Pangasinan regarding the posting of campaign materials.

Estrellas has identified common poster areas wherein a message that reads “Comelec common poster area from 20 or 25 meters from this point” are conspicuously placed in different barangays.

She has also ready materials to be distributed to candidates regarding the locations of the common poster areas for their information and guidance.

“Trees are like human beings. They also get hurt when nailed,” Estrellas said.

She is happy that her efforts were noticed by Balarbar who recommended the same to be adopted in the rest of the province.

BRIDGES

In a related development, District Engineer Rodolfo Dion of the Second Pangasinan Engineering District that covers the second and fourth congressional districts of Pangasinan has also initiated a first in the province by putting warning signs regarding posting of campaign materials before bridge approaches.

The message, placed in various main bridges, reads: “Bawal magdikit ng anumang campaign materials dito” (Pasting of campaign materials is prohibited here).

Dion said the Department of Public Works and Highways spends huge amounts of money for bridge maintenance and if supporters of candidates indiscriminately paste campaign materials on these structures, these would be another money lost.

He cited that they are maintaining 68 bridges with a total length of 4.2 kilometers. He said the annual cost for repainting is P1.6 million.

He called on the people not to vote for candidates whose posters are pasted on these structures despite the clear warning.

In Dagupan City, elements of Task Force Baklas headed by election officer Remarque Ravanzo had started Friday its massive removal of campaign materials posted in areas not designated by the Comelec.—EVA

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