CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Ensuring a smooth, fair, and law-abiding electoral process, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-10 outlined key dates, prohibited activities, and regulatory measures for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on November 5.
The election day, set for May 12, 2025, aligns with the country’s tradition of holding elections on the second Monday of the electoral term. The official election period will span from January 12, 2025, to June 11, 2025. This period will encompass all election-related activities, including the preparation and campaign phases, culminating in the post-election administrative processes.
“At the start of the election period, diha pud mu-attach ang atong mga prohibited nga mga activities (the prohibited activities are attached). Number one is atong i-shorten sa (we shorted to) gun ban, which includes bearing, carrying, transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons, and use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates,” said Gina Luna-Zayas Sabio, regional attorney of COMELEC-10.
There will also be restrictions on movement within government personnel, including transfers and the organization of strike forces.
On election day, COMELEC-20 will enforce stringent measures to maintain order and integrity. Campaigning, vote buying, and vote selling will be banned, along with an alcohol ban from May 11 to May 12, with the only exemptions being tourist-accredited establishments catering to foreign nationals. Additionally, COMELEC-10 will restrict all commercial activities, including food stalls, within a 30-meter radius of polling stations to prevent interference with the voting process.
The campaign period for national positions, including senators and party-list candidates, is scheduled from February 11 to May 10, 2025. For local positions, such as members of the House of Representatives and provincial, city, and municipal officials, the campaign period will extend from March 28 to May 10, 2025.
During the Holy Week observance, specifically on April 17–18 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday), campaigning will be strictly prohibited. Starting March 28, 2025, candidates will also be prohibited from providing donations or utilizing government funds for campaign purposes.
“Our voting time is 7:00 a.m. up to 7:00 p.m. But we have our early voting that is 5:00 a.m. up to 7:00 a.m. kasi (because) we cater mostly to PWDs (persons with disabilities) if they want, senior citizens, ug kadtong mga (and the) heavily pregnant,” Sabio added.
COMELEC also highlighted the local absentee voting provisions, scheduled from April 28 to 30, 2025. Government agencies, along with military personnel, will be able to coordinate with COMELEC for absentee voting to cast their votes for national positions, including senators and party lists.
Once the polls close, canvassing of votes will be conducted at designated locations, such as Sangguniang Bayan for municipal canvassing and Sangguniang Panlalawigan for provincial results. The COMELEC National Board of Canvassers will oversee and proclaim winners for national positions.
Following the election, Sabio said candidates are required to submit a Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) by June 11, 2025, including those who withdrew their candidacy during the campaign period.
As for strengthening the technological aspects of the 2025 elections, COMELEC-10 Assistant Regional Election Director Maria Dulce Cuevas-Banzon said they formed the Task Force sa Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan with plans to hire information technology (IT) experts who will work in close coordination with key departments.
The newly onboarded experts will collaborate directly with the COMELEC’s Information Technology Department (ITD) and Education and Information Department to bolster the digital and educational components of the election process.
“So hand in hand na sila mu-work (they will work) together. We will hire experts for this campaign. Apil ang DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology),” Banzon said.
To ensure that voters and candidates understand their rights and responsibilities during the election, they also urged the media to assist in disseminating this information. (RTP/PIA-10)
