Campaign period for barangay, SK elections starts

The ten-day campaign period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) has officially started.

There are now 42,001 barangays in the Philippines, the same number of posts for barangay and SK chairpersons.

The Comelec has considered 2,518 barangays as areas of concern.

For the 2023 BSKE, there are 294,007 Sangguniang Barangay seats up for grabs and 295,007 Sangguniang Kabataan posts to be filled..

The last barangay and SK elections were held on May 14, 2018.

Candidates for barangay and SK positions are allowed to campaign from October 19 until October 28 or the day before the eve of the election.

While candidates are now allowed to woo voters through different platforms and materials, the Commission on Elections has issued the following guidelines for the campaign period:

- Lawful campaign materials should be only posted in designated common poster areas. Prohibited election propaganda in common poster areas include:

• Individual posters posted in each common poster area exceeding two by three feet
• Billboards, posters, tarpaulins exceeding two by three feet
• Election campaign or propaganda materials that are violative of gender sensitivity principles, obscene, discriminatory, offensive or otherwise constitute a violation of the Magna Carta of Women
• Posters that do not bear the words “Political advertisement paid for/by _____” or the words “printed free of charge”
• Posters that are not stand-alone, having the maximum size or lesser of two by three feet and put together or side by side to form a collage-like poster exceeding two feet by three feet
• Single letters of names having the maximum size or lesser of two feet by three feet and then putting them together to form a size exceeding two feet by three feet
• Poster/tarpaulin bearing the photo/picture of the whole slate exceeding two feet by three feet

- Campaigning and posting campaign propaganda in groups are allowed as long as the poster is in accordance with the size requirement

- Campaigning on television or cable television, radio, newspaper, the internet or any other medium such as in social media and internet is allowed for all bona fide candidates, subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates, observation of truth in advertising, and to the supervision and regulation by the Comelec.

- Livestreaming on the candidate’s social media platforms shall be considered a form of e-rally, subject to existing rules

- In case the are unlawful campaign materials posted on public and private properties, Comelec election officers shall send a notice to remove and a show cause order to the considered candidates. The rules of the Committee on Kontra Epal will govern such cases.

- A nationwide simultaneous conduct of Operation Baklas or the removal of unlawful campaign materials posted on designated common poster areas or other public places will take place on October 20 and 27.

- Giving of t-shirts, ballers, bags, sun visor, hat/caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, ballpens, fans, ballers, candies and others of value is strictly prohibited, including giving of food and drinks during and after a meeting or campaign sortie.

- The candidate and five of his or her campaign staff may wear t-shirt with the candidate's  picture during the election campaign period

- Distribution in case or in-kind of any assistance through the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) is strictly prohibited from October 20 until Election Day except those which are not normally given to qualified individuals such as but not limited to basic needs in the form of food transportation, medical, educational, burial and other similar assistance.

The Comelec will also impose a liquor ban from October 29 to 30 under Comelec Resolution 10924.

The elections will take place on October 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. —NB, GMA Integrated News