ILOILO City – The 90-day campaign period for national candidates begins today. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates and their supporters of the restrictions that will be implemented for in-person campaigning, among other rules.
The campaign guidelines for this year is different from the usual campaign rules pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as every activity has to have the approval of the newly created National Comelec Campaign Committee, whose main function is to regulate election campaign under the new normal.
There are 10 candidates running for president while nine are vying for the vice presidential seat.
There are 64 senatorial aspirants for 12 senatorial seats while there are 178 party-list candidates.
According to Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, campaign posters, streamers and tarpaulins must only be displayed in designated common poster areas and not on trees or electric posts, government offices or buildings, including barangay halls and covered gyms.
The common poster areas could be private lots, spaces or buildings (with the owner’s consent) and open spaces in public plazas.
“I’m calling our all candidates. They are educated people so I think it is within their power to tell their supporters to obey the campaign rules of Comelec,” said Balisado.
He also reminded candidates of campaign guidelines in Comelec Resolution No. 10732 issued last November 2021.
For in-person campaign
* Category Level 1 area (Alert Level 1) – no limit
* Category Level 2 area (Alert Level 2) – a candidate or campaign leader may be accompanied by a maximum of five campaign support staff
* Category Level 3 area (Alert Level 3) – a candidate or campaign leader may be accompanied by a maximum of three campaign support staff
* Category 4 and 5 areas (Alert Level 4 and 5) – not allowed
The following activities are strictly prohibited during in-person campaigns in all category levels:
* Entering any private dwelling during house-to-house campaigning, even with the express permission of the homeowner;
* Crowding, or allowing there to be, crowds that violate minimum public health standards around the candidate and his or her companions;
* Handshakes, hugs, kisses, going arm-in-arm, or any that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions, and the public;
* Taking selfies, photographs and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public;
* Distribution of food and drink, and all other goods or items;
For caucuses, meetings, convention, rallies, and miting de avance
* Category/Level 1 – allowed up to 70 percent of the operational capacity of the venue, whether indoor or outdoor;
* Category/Level 2 – allowed up to 50 percent of the operational capacity of the venue, whether indoor or outdoor;
* Category/Level 3 – allowed up to 50 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only;
* Category/Level 4 – allowed up to 30 percent of the operational capacity of the venue for enclosed outdoor only;
* Category Level 5 – not allowed;
The following activities are strictly prohibited during such gatherings:
* Handshakes, hugs, going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidates, their companions and the public;
* Taking selfies, photographs and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public;
* Distribution of food and drinking, and all other goods or items
As for motorcades and caravans, the following passenger capacity for each type of vehicle shall be observed:
For trucks, buses, mini-trucks, and jeepneys
– allowed up to 70 percent of the capacity of the vehicle (Category 1)
– allowed up to 50 percent of the capacity of the vehicles (Category 2 and 3)
– allowed up to 30 percent of the capacity of the vehicle (Category 4)
– not allowed (Category 5)
For service utility vehicles, sedans and owner-type jeepneys
– full capacity (Category 1 and 2)
– allowed up two passengers per row and one (1) passenger on the drivers row (Category 3 and 4)
– not allowed (Category 5)
For tricycles
– full capacity (Category 1 and 2)
– one passenger in the side-car and one back-ride passenger (Category 3)
– one passenger in the side-car but no back ride passenger (Category 4)
– not allowed (Category 5)
For motorcycles
– one back ride passenger (Category 1 and 2)
– no back ride passengers (Category 3 and 4)
– not allowed (Category 5)
Only candidates, campaign leaders and supporters belonging to the same household are allowed to be in the same vehicle.
The following activities are strictly prohibited during motorcades, in all category levels:
* Stopovers, layovers, and other similar stoppages for the conduct of other election campaign activities
* Handshakes, hugs, kisses, going arm-in-arm, or any action that involves physical contact among the candidate, their companions, and the public
* Taking selfies, photographs and other similar activities that require close proximity between the candidate and their companions, and the public
* Distribution of food and drinks, and all other goods or items
During all election campaign activities, candidates and participants shall, at all times, observe of minimum public health standards./PN
