CAMPAIGN ELECTION GUIDELINES

When is the election campaign period?

For national candidates, or those running for senator and party list, the campaign period is from
February 9 to May 7, 2022.

Campaigning is not allowed on Maundy Thursday (April 14), Good Friday (April 15), the eve of
election day (May 8), and on election day (May 9).

How much can bets spend during the campaign period?

Candidates who belong to a political party can spend P3 per registered voter covered by the
elective position they are running for.
Meanwhile, independent bets can spend P5 per voter. Political parties and party-list groups can
also spend P5 per voter.

What campaign materials are allowed during the campaign period?

● Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers, or similar materials (maximum width: 8 1/2
inches; maximum length: 14 inches)
● Handwritten or printed letters campaigning for or against a candidate/party
● Posters, whether framed or posted (maximum area: 2 feet by 3 feet)
● Banners or streamers during public meetings or rallies which may only be displayed from
5 days before up to 24 hours after the rally (maximum area: 3 feet by 8 feet)
● Social media posts, whether original or reposted, which may be incidental to the
creator's advocacies of social issues or is primarily endorsing a candidate
● Mobile units, vehicles, or motorcades of all types
● Paid ads in broadcast, internet, mobile, print, or outdoor media
● Campaign materials (except banners or streamers) in headquarters and residences of
candidates

***Comelec encourages the use of recyclable and environment-friendly materials in campaign

paraphernalia.
Candidates and parties are required to incorporate sign language
interpreters and closed captioning in broadcast election propaganda intended
for exhibition on television and/or the internet, and are encouraged to ensure
the availability of their respective printed campaign materials in Braille.

What must be included in campaign materials?

All forms of campaign ads must contain the following information in readable or audible formats:
"Political advertisement paid for"
(Candidate's name, his/her address)
"Political advertisement paid by"
(Payor's name, his/her address)
Campaign ads donated or given free of charge must contain the information below.
Free or donated ads must have written acceptance of the candidate/party.
"Printed free of charge by"
(Donor's name, his/her/its address)
"Airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by"
(Donor's name, his/her/its address)

The notices for printed materials should comply with the ff:

(i) The notice must be of sufficient type size to be clearly readable by

the reader of the information.

A notice in twelve (12)-point type size satisfies the size

requirement of this paragraph when it is used for signs, posters,
flyers, newspapers, magazines, or other printed material that
measure no more than two (2) feet by three (3) feet.

(ii) The notice must be contained in a printed box, set apart from the
other contents of the sign, poster, flyer, or newspaper advertisement.

(iii) The notice must be printed with a reasonable degree of color

contrast between the background and the printed statement. A
notice satisfies the color contrast requirement of this paragraph if it
is printed in black text on a white background or if the degree of
color contrast between the background and the text of the notice is
no less than the color contrast between the background and the
largest text used in the communication.

The notices for TV Ads shall comply with the ff:

(i) The notice must appear in letters equal to or greater than four (4)
percent of the vertical picture height;

(ii) The notice must be visible for the duration of the broadcast
advertisement; and

(iii) The notice must appear with a reasonable degree of color

contrast from the background. A notice satisfies the color contrast
requirement of this paragraph if it is displayed in black text on a
white background or if the degree of color contrast between the
background and the text of the notice is no less than the color
 contrast between the background and the largest type size used in
the communication.

How much airtime are given to candidates?

National candidates and parties may air only a total of 120 minutes of TV ads per station and
180 minutes of radio ads per station.
Local candidates may air only a total of 60 minutes of TV ads per station and 90 minutes of
radio ads per station.
In ads with multiple candidates, each bet will share the airtime and campaign expenditure based
on their appearance on the ad.

How big should campaign ads be in newspapers?

Each candidate or party can use up to 1/4 page in broadsheets and 1/2 page in tabloids.
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In ads with multiple candidates, the size limit applies to each individual/party and the cost will be
shared among them.
Print campaign ads can only be published up to 3 times a week per newspaper, magazine, or
publication.

What are the new Comelec campaign rules in social media?

Candidates and parties must register with the Comelec Education and Information Department
the website name and the web address of their official social media page or blog.
Other social media pages or blogs directly or indirectly maintained by the candidate/party and
are primarily endorsing a candidate will be considered additional official blogs/pages of the
candidate.
In addition, paid social media associates or influencers are now considered contractors, and
must report to Comelec the payments they received for posts campaigning for or against a
candidate.

Who can put up common poster areas and where?

Parties and independent candidates, at their expense, can install common poster areas, with
the approval of the local Comelec office. Up to 32 party-list groups can also apply to install one
shared common poster area.
One common poster area can be placed per 5,000 registered voters in a barangay. The
maximum dimensions of poster areas for political parties are 12 feet by 16 feet (or an area of
192 square feet). For independent candidates, the size limit is 4 feet by 6 feet (or an area of 24
square feet).

It should be set up in conspicuous public places with the heaviest foot traffic like plazas,
markets, and barangay centers. It cannot be placed in trees along public roads and plants in
any public grounds.
COMELEC RULES ABOUT PRIVATE SPACES
The law allows campaign materials to be posted on private properties, but with the consent of
the property owners. This means that a candidate can approach the owner of the private
residence and ask for permission to put on his posters. If consent is given, then the posters
should not be considered as “misplaced” even if they are not in Comelec’s common poster area.
Again it is very important to qualify, that if the poster is from or at the expense of a candidate,
then it has to comply with the 2x3-feet limitation even if posted in a private property and even if
the private owner consents.
But if the poster is fully at the expense of the private person, at his own instance and
without collusion with any candidate, the Supreme Court ruled in The Diocese of Bacolod v.
COMELEC (GR Number 205728, January 21, 2015) that the private person or entity is not
covered by the size limitation.

How should campaign ads be more PWD-friendly and gender-sensitive?

Sign language interpreters and closed captioning in campaign ads on TV and the Internet are
now required. Comelec also encourages candidates to make printed campaign materials
available in Braille.
Meanwhile, the poll body prohibits campaign ads that violate gender sensitivity, are obscene or
offensive, or violate the Magna Carta of Women.

What campaign materials are not allowed during the campaign period?
● Any movie, documentary, concert, or performance about the life of a candidate played in
theaters, TV, video sharing sites, social media network, or any public forum
● Any broadcast program or sponsor manifestly campaigning for or against a
candidate/party by unduly, repetitively, or unnecessary mentioning them
● Any campaign ad outside authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private
properties without the consent of the owner

Where are campaign ads prohibited?

There should be no campaign ads in these places:
● Publicly-owned LED or LCD screens along highways and streets or on walls of public
buildings, and other similar devices owned by the national or local government
● Patrol cars, ambulances, or other motor vehicles owned by the national or local
government
● Public transport vehicles owned and controlled by government, such as the MRT, LRT,
and PNR
● Waiting sheds, sidewalks, street/lamp posts, electric posts/wires, traffic signs, and others
on public property
 ● Pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, bridges, main roads, and center
islands of roads
● Schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers, and other
public structures
● Within the premises of public transport terminals owned and controlled by government

Candidates will have no limitations if they will be conducting in-person lobbying or visiting
residents door-to-door in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, as long as they follow minimum
health and safety protocols, he said.
“For example, if in-person campaigning, certain municipalities categorized as Level 1, there will
be no limit of person except that we will also exercise the minimum public health standards just
like the wearing of face mask and one-meter distancing," Casquejo told lawmakers.
"If it is categorized as Level 2, then we will limit only by five campaign support staff (for) each
candidate or campaign leader. If it is categorized as Level 3 then tatlo lang (they will only have
3)."
"If categorized as (Level) 4, there will be no in-person campaigning because medyo mahirap
na ‘to (it's already difficult). This will be equivalent to MECQ as well as (Level) 5," he said,
referring to the modified enhanced community quarantine, one of the strictest lockdown
classifications.
Candidates conducting in-person campaigning will not be allowed to enter voters'
residences even if they are permitted by owners of the houses. Embracing, taking selfies,
and other types of physical distancing violations are not allowed.
Giving away food and drinks is also not permitted.
Motorcades meanwhile will not have restrictions on number of cars but they will have
limits on amount of passengers inside a vehicle.

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