ILOILO City – The official campaign period for local candidates in the May 12 midterm elections begins today, March 28. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is calling on all candidates and political parties in Western Visayas to strictly follow campaign rules.
According to Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan, the regional office, together with city, provincial, and municipal election officers, has been conducting a series of information drives to ensure that candidates and political parties are fully informed of the guidelines.
“There’s a need for them to comply with the campaign rules set by the Commission,” Ausan told Panay News.
Various election officers across the region held candidate forums to gather local bets along with their leaders and supporters. These forums aimed to guide stakeholders on the specific rules and regulations governing campaign activities.
“We convened candidates and their leaders to explain the regulations issued by the Commission, which they are required to strictly observed,” Ausan said.
Ausan added that copies of Comelec Resolution No. 11086, which contains the detailed guidelines on campaigning, have already been distributed to candidates and political parties.
Among the key reminders is the proper placement of campaign posters. Comelec has released a list of designated common poster areas to inform candidates and their teams where campaign materials can legally be posted.
Posting campaign materials in undesignated areas — such as terminals, flyovers, bridges, electric posts, and trees — is strictly prohibited. However, posters may be placed on private property with the explicit consent of the owner.
“Some candidates tend to forget or ignore the rule. Let me reiterate that campaign materials must only be placed in designated common poster areas. Outside of these, it is unlawful — except in private property with consent from the owner,” said Ausan.
All election offices across the region have already issued notices to local candidates, political parties, and even supporters of national candidates, instructing them to remove all campaign materials posted in non-designated areas at least 72 hours before March 28.
Failure to comply will result in Comelec personnel removing these materials during the nationwide synchronized Operation Baklas set on today also.
Ausan also emphasized that campaign posters must not exceed the allowed size of 2 feet by 3 feet. Oversized posters, even if placed in common poster areas, will be removed.
He further noted that many campaign materials do not include the required “Paid for by” or “Printed by” disclaimers. Posters lacking these details will also be taken down, regardless of their location.
For the upcoming elections, Western Visayas — comprising Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo—has a total of 3,128,562 registered voters. The breakdown is as follows:
* Aklan – 414,890
* Antique – 399,553
* Capiz – 539,553
* Guimaras – 124,930
* Iloilo – 1,649,730
The region is composed of 3,389 barangays, 20,077 established precincts, and 2,854 voting centers.
“We are ready, and our candidates have already received the list of designated common poster areas where campaign materials can legally be posted,” Ausan assured.
The campaign period for both local and national candidates will run until May 10./PN
