ILOILO – Indiscriminately displayed pre-election campaign posters are the targets of an upcoming clean-up campaign of the Iloilo provincial government’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
“Before the campaign period begins, we will go around the province. All collected materials will be turned over to the concerned Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) for recycling into bags,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The PENRO routinely undertakes this clean-up every election season to ensure that campaign materials do not clutter roads and become waste.
The midterm election is less than six months away, on May 12, 2025.
The campaign period for Senate and party-list groups runs from February 11, 2025 to May 10, 2025 while that for local candidates and those for the House of Representatives starts on March 28, 2025 and ends on May 10, 2025.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), posting of campaign materials prior to the campaign period does not constitute premature campaigning, citing a Supreme Court ruling that those who filed their certificates of candidacy are not considered candidates until the campaign period begins. The poll body said, therefore, that it has no authority at this time to prohibit the display of campaign materials.
“Anything being posted now cannot be considered campaigning because there are no official candidates yet,” explained Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan.
Defensor acknowledged Comelec’s position, but he emphasized that this does not grant midterm election aspirants free rein, as nailing campaign materials on trees, displaying then on electrical posts or on private properties without the owner’s consent are still prohibited.
Ausan himself urged aspirants to exercise caution.
And when the campaign period starts, said Ausan, Comelec will be strict in regulating the display of campaign materials, including their sizes. Comelec, he said, will be identifying common poster areas./PN
