KALIBO, Aklan – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is encouraging political parties and candidates to use recyclable and environment-friendly materials and to avoid using those that contain hazardous chemicals and substances in the production of their campaign and election propaganda.
This was emphasized by Atty. Elizabeth Doronila, Aklan election supervisor, during a recent press conference with the local media to give updates on activities of their office with the onset of the campaign period for national elective positions and party-list representatives.
The updates and reminders were culled from Resolution No. 10488 of the COMELEC promulgated on January 30, 2019 that provides the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act 9006, otherwise known as the “Fair Elections Act” in connection with the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.
The resolution contained rules for campaign period, prohibited campaigning, prohibition against foreign intervention, authorized expenses of candidates and parties, lawful election propaganda, prohibited forms of election propaganda, petition for authority to use other election propaganda, requirements and/or limitations on the use of election propaganda through mass media, among others.
Most questions raised by the local media centered on lawful election propaganda, prohibited forms of election propaganda as well as on specific airtime on radio and television of paid advertisements of candidates.
Doronila said that campaign materials should only be placed at designated common poster areas in sizes and materials as stated in the resolution.
Lawful election propaganda, according to the COMELEC guideline, include pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed materials with sizes that do not exceed eight and a half inches in width and 14 inches in length; handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any particular political party or candidate for public office; and posters made of cloth, paper, cardboard or any other material, whether framed or posted, with size not exceeding two feet by three feet.
Five days before a political party’s rally or public meeting, streamers not exceeding three feet by eight feet in size could be displayed on the rally site but these should also be removed within 24 hours after the activity.
She stressed that all campaign materials should contain the printed words “political advertisement paid for” with complete name and address of the candidate, and “political advertisement paid by” with complete name and address of the payor.
The material should also contain the phrase “made of recyclable materials.”
Trees, public buildings, schools, public transport terminals, motor vehicles used as patrol cars, public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government, on the other hand, should not be posted with campaign materials, Doronila said.
Campaign materials however, could be posted at private residences and buildings, provided that candidates or campaigners have earlier sought permission from owners of these buildings. (PIA/PN)
