EXPECT political campaign materials to litter public spaces as the campaign period for candidates running for national posts begins today, February 9, 2010.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates to post their campaign paraphernalia such as tarpaulin banners and posters in designated common poster areas.
Comelec Resolution No. 8758 provides that campaign materials posted outside the common poster areas as well as those considered as illegal campaign materials that are displayed would be torn down.
Posters made of cloth, paper or cardboard should not exceed 2 feet by 3
feet in size. Streamers should not go over the mandated size of 3 feet
by 8 feet.
Jonathan Sayno, Iloilo City election assistant, said the poll body will
form a task force which will monitor and dismantle campaign materials
outside the designated area.
In Iloilo City, the designated poster areas are the plazas in the six city districts.
The designated common poster area are: corner Osmeña and Rizal Streets
in Arevalo Plaza; portion of Molo Plaza fronting the Consing residence
and Caltex gasoline station; corner Oñate and Q. Abeto streets in
Mandurriao plaza; Rizal street fronting Andok’s in Jaro Plaza; Burgos
Mabini street fronting La Paz Maternity Clinic near La Paz Plaza; Lapuz
National High School at Abanilla street; and portion of Plaza Libertad
fronting PNB JM Basa Street in Iloilo City proper.
Posting of campaign materials in public places such as streets,
bridges, public buildings, trees, electric posts and wires, schools,
shrines and main thoroughfares are strictly prohibited under poll laws.
The Fair Elections Act provides that whether the illegal campaign
materials were posted by the concerned candidates or not, the poll body
will only wait for three days before assuming them to be belonging to
the name of the candidate featured in the posted materials.
“All materials and advertisements showing the picture, image or name of
the person made or done in violation of election laws prior to campaign
period shall be immediately removed by said candidate within three days
after the effectivity of these rules and the start of campaign period.
Otherwise, he or she shall be presumed to have committed the pertinent
election offense,” Section 29 of Resolution 8758 states.
CAPS ON ADS
The Comelec resolution also provides caps on the size, length and costs of political advertisements.
Presidential bets can only spend P10 per voter while vice presidential candidates will spend not more than P5 per voter.
Candidates for senator and local posts with political parties are
allowed to spend P3 per registered voter in the constituency where she
or he is running. Their political parties may spend another P5 for
every registered voter for each of their official candidates.
The campaign period for local candidates will start March 26.
Campaign expenses include campaign money spent for TV, radio and print
ads, and posters and streamers and other campaign paraphernalia of a
candidate.
The poll body also told candidates that have existing "infomercials" or
print advertisements to restructure them to conform to the standards
set by Resolution No. 8758.
For presidential, vice presidential and senatorial aspirants, the
Comelec gave a maximum of 120 minutes per TV station (including airings
on cable television) and another 180 minutes per radio station.
Local candidates are allowed 60 minutes airing time per TV station
(including cable station) and another 90 minutes per radio station.
The Comelec also limited print ads of candidates, both for national and
local positions. The candidates are allowed one campaign ad not more
than three times a week in a broadsheet, tabloid or magazine.
Candidates for all posts are allowed to buy one-fourth page of advertisements in broadsheets and half a page in tabloid papers.
