ILOILO City – Don’t be too preoccupied with the 2019 midterm elections. It is still half a year away, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 told local government officials, especially those seeking reelection or higher office.
Local officials should focus on their work, stressed Director Anthony Nuyda.
The midterm elections are on May 13, 2019.
“Huwag naman masyadong obvious na politika lang ang inaatupag. Marami din silang dapat gawin,” said Nuyda.
One of the concerns local officials should address is the proliferation of illegal drugs, he said, and specifically how to make barangay anti-drug abuse councils (BADACs) functional.
Some 20 percent of BADACs in 4,051 barangays in Western Visayas are nonfunctional, according to Nuyda, “although lahat nakapag-organize na.”
“Sana ‘yung mga public officials will cooperate talaga to make these functional kasi isa ‘to sa mga campaigns ng national government. Kung may problema ang barangay about drugs malaking tulong ang BADAC kung functional. Doon muna mag-focus ang public officials, later na lang ang election,” added Nuyda.
Under Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10429 for the 2019 midterm elections, the election period begins on Jan. 13, 2019 and ends on June 12, 2019.
The campaign period for candidates for senator and party-list groups is from Feb. 12, 2019 to May 11, 2019, with campaigning prohibited on March 28, 2019 (Holy Thursday) and March 29, 2019 (Good Friday).
On the other hand, the campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials will run from March 30, 2019 to May 11, 2019.
Nuyda, however, acknowledged that the DILG has no authority to prohibit local government officials from campaigning this yearly for the midterm polls, and specifically from displaying posters or streamers – such as in barangay halls – promoting themselves.
There is no directive yet from DILG’s central office on what actions to take on this posters or streamers, said Nuyda.
Mayor Jose Espinosa of this city recently said he may order the removal of pre-election campaign materials flooding the city as these, he said, make the city dirty and ugly.
“Ang bilog nga syudad naglaw-ay na because of pamulitika,” he said.
Rules regulating posters and prohibiting vandalism must be enforced, he stressed.
“Parehos bala sang gabutang posters left and right. Pati arko sa mga barangay may ara na, pauna-una butang,” Espinosa lamented. He, however, did not single out anybody.
Posters, especially political ones, are only allowed in privately-owned places, not in public spaces, he stressed.
“Ang aton barangay halls are public buildings. So tan-awon ta. Kay gapadayaw sila, ang tag-iya sina is government. Sa government buildings, may prohibition ina. Okay lang kun private. Pati markets subong may ara na,” said Espinosa.
The Comelec Iloilo City previously said it could not stop those running in the midterm elections from campaigning this early.
“We are not yet in the campaign period. Comelec cannot impose elections rules and regulations at this stage,” said city election officer Atty. Rainer Layson.
So what can be done to arrest the proliferation of election campaign materials at this time?
Layson said the Comelec may ask the city government to strictly enforce its anti-littering ordinance.
“Amo lang na ang makita naton nga paagi nga malimpyo naton ang syudad sang Iloilo sang mga unsightly nga mga political advertisements or political campaign materials at this time,” he said./PN
