As the campaign period for elective national positions begins on February 8, 2022, the DILG-NCR conducted on February 7, 2022 an orientation on Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 10732 re: Guidelines for the Conduct of: (1) In-Person Campaign, (2) Rallies, (3) Caucuses, Meetings, and Conventions, (4) Motorcades and Caravans, and (5) Miting de Avance under the New Normal in connection with the 09 May 2022 National and Local Elections.

“We are one with the COMELEC,” Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III said, in stressing the role of the DILG together with DOH, NCRPO and the JTF-NCR, to ensure clean, honest, and peaceful elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atty. Edgar Feliciano D. Aringay, Election Officer of COMELEC Las Piñas served as Resource Person in the virtual briefing which was attended by the DILG-NCR’s City Directors, Cluster Heads, Legal/BK Focal persons, Division Chiefs, and other field and regional office personnel.

During the election campaign, all candidates and their campaign support staff are considered as Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR), regardless of the alert level system and their vaccination status, according to Atty. Aringay. However, they are still subject to the minimum public health standards and the prevailing IATF-MEID guidelines. Atty. Aringay likewise discussed in detail the allowable election campaign activities and the restrictions per category level as stipulated under Rule IV of the COMELEC Resolution.

The COMELEC Campaign Committee (CCC) in the National Capital Region, charged with the enforcement of campaign rules, convened on February 3, 2022. It is chaired by Atty. Temie P. Lambino, Regional Election Director of COMELEC-NCR and composed of four members, namely: Dr. Gloria J. Balboa, Regional Director of Department of Health – NCR, PMGEN Vicente D. Danao, Jr., Chief of Philippine National Police – NCR Police Office, BGEN Marceliano Teofilo, Chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines-Joint Task Force – NCR, and Dir. Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, Regional Director of DILG-NCR.

Atty. Aringay emphasized that no election campaign activity shall be conducted without the prior approval of the corresponding CCC. This is contained in Rule VI of the Resolution which provides the requirements that must be compiled with in any application for the conduct of campaign activities.

Atty. Aringay assured the public that COMELEC will be proactive in implementing its rules in promoting a #VoteSafe #StaySafe Pilipinas.