MANILA – Allowing candidates to conduct face-to-face campaigns for the 2022 national elections could be challenging and risky with the country still facing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
Galvez, who serves as chief implementer of the state’s COVID-19 plan, said on Wenesday that face-to-face campaigning could be dangerous as it will enhance close contact with different people.
“Tatalakayin po natin with COMELEC (Commission on Elections) kasi talagang nakikita natin na malaki po iyong challenge at risk, ‘yung magkakaroon po ng face-to-face na gathering,” he added.
COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said they are eyeing to ban face-to-face campaigning to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
“We are particularly concerned about face-to-face encounters between campaigners and the public because that’s where your spread is going to happen,” Jimenez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News. “Activities like giving out of materials or going out and talking to people face-to-face for campaign purposes, that’s gonna change, door-to-door campaigns might be prohibited.”
COMELEC commissioner Rowena Guanzon, however, said it may still be allowed provided that strict physical distancing and observance of other health protocols is followed.
“Pwede naman po silang mangampanya pero two meters minimum tapos may mask sila. Sila, ‘yung mga nangangampanya may mask, tsaka ‘yung mga taong nakikinig sa kanila may mask din, at may limit na po ‘yan,” Guanzon told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
“Depende po sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) na mga rules ‘yan. Kunwari Metro Manila is under GCQ (general community quarantine), so limited dapat ang social distancing nila, two meters,” she added./PN
