The official campaign period for theMay 9 elections will start on Feb. 8 and with COVID-19 still a threat to public safety, several measures will be implemented to lessen physical interaction between candidates and the voters, the Commission on Elections said Monday.
The poll body has created the National Comelec Campaign Committee, an inter-agency panel whose primary function is to regulate campaign activities under the new normal, said Comelec director Elaiza David.
"Dahil nasa new normal tayo ngayon, hindi na kagaya ng dati ang pangangampanya. May mga restrictions na," she said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
According to David, physical activities that will be prohibited during the campaign include:
- Candidates entering households even with the consent of the owner
- Kissing, hugging, hand-shaking
- Crowding candidates
- Taking selfies with candidates
- Distributing food and drinks to attendees of campaign rallies
Candidates who intend to hold physical campaign activities such as miting de avance, rallies, caravans, and motorcades should first file an application with the respective Comelec campaign committee depending on the position they are running for, David said.
For national candidates, the application should be filed with the regional Comelec office, while provincial candidates may apply through the provincial Comelec office. Those running for city and municipal elective posts may send their applications through their respective city or municipal Comelec office.
Starting Feb. 8, national candidates can start livestreaming their online meetings or "e-rallies" through the Campaign S • A • F • E • COMELEC e-Rally Channel on Facebook for free.
Each night, there will be three presidential and three vice presidential slots at 10 minutes each, and 10 slots for partylists at 3 minutes each.
Here's the schedule for the livestreaming of e-rallies as determined by a raffle conducted by the Comelec on Jan. 28.
The campaign period for the 2022 elections will last for 90 days until May 7, two days before the election day.
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