By Julia Mangmang and Raphael Polintan

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is confident that they are ready for the campaign season leading up to the national elections on May 9, 2022 despite looming COVID-19 risks, according to Education and Information Director Elaiza David.

Despite the change in the chain of command and the current pandemic, Director David still believes that the agency has covered all bases. 

With the official campaign period kicking off last February 8, the COMELEC assured the public that they have set guidelines which ensure the safety of all candidates and their supporters. 

According to Director David, all activities must be approved by the newly-formed National COMELEC Campaign Committee, a unit that regulates the campaign period given the country’s special circumstances, headed by Commissioner Rey Bulay and composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of Health, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

Notably, candidates are no longer allowed to hug, kiss, give food and drinks, take selfies, shake hands, and enter the houses of their supporters as, “we have to maintain or observe the so-called minimum public health standards,” David said. 

The COMELEC will be live-streaming the rallies of national candidates on their e-channel to make up for the lack of mass gatherings.

Meanwhile, the national debates led by the COMELEC may be slightly delayed due to ongoing preparations as the poll body awaits the approval of the debate guidelines in line with their coordination with media outlets and other partners to broadcast the events.

COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez also added on Tuesday, February 8, additional reasons for the likely delay of the much-awaited event, namely COVID-19 restrictions and pending negotiations with the candidates.

Due to the changes in health protocols, debates have also been rescheduled from the last week of February to the first week of March. 

In spite of the hurdles, Jimenez assured the public that the latest dates the COMELEC can conduct the debates are March 6 and 7.

The agency also plans to decrease the number of vice-presidential debates from three, as originally targeted, to just one to accommodate the nine candidates and the limitations of the pandemic. 

References

de Leon, D. (2022a, February 8). Comelec ‘ready’ for campaign season, even as pandemic risks loom. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/comelec-ready-2022-campaign-season-covid-19-pandemic-risks-loom/

de Leon, D. (2022b, February 8). COVID-19 snag, ongoing talks with bets delay 1st Comelec debate to March. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/first-comelec-sponsored-presidential-debate-delayed-2022/   

Patinio, F. (2022, February 7). Rules, restrictions set as poll campaign starts Feb. 8: Comelec. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167206

Punzalan, J. (2022, February 7). Comelec presidential debates may be slightly delayed to March: official. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/07/22/comelec-presl-debates-may-be-slightly-delayed-official