BAGUIO CITY PIA) — The Commission on Elections(COMELEC) Baguio supports a proposed ordinance by the City Council prohibiting politicians, political groups and/or private individuals from putting up posters, signages, images or pictures on public and private properties and vehicles .
Baguio City Election Officer John Paul Martin expressed his support for the proposed Anti-Epal ordinance during the public consultation at the Benguet Electric Cooperative Office here on January 22, which was attended by officials and representatives of the city’s 128 barangays and various sectoral groups.
The proposed Anti-Epal ordinance is good. It will patch the loopholes in the election laws, clean up the city and level up the playing field among the election candidates, Martin said.
The Anti-Epal ordinance proposed by Councilor Fred Bagbagen, if passed, will make it unlawful for politicians, public individuals to affix their names by means of inscription, painting, engraving sculpting or superimposing one’s name, symbol, or sign using paint, metal or plastic craft, tarpaulin, wood or cement structure on public and private properties.
Epal activities included in the ordinance are putting up billboards or signage’s bearing the names, initials and images of government officials on government programs and projects (pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2010 – 101, City Ordinance 33 series of 2012) and on government properties and on privately owned properties, and billboards or signages bearing the names, initials and images of government officials attached to public or privately- owned properties, trees, electrical poles, walls and other public spaces with a minimum width, size of two feet and height of three feet or more and the number of such material exceeds three.
For movable properties, even if there is only one material attached but the intention is to prolong its display and roaming around the city, it shall also be considered as epal activity.
Martin iterated that under the Automated Election Law, any person who filed his certificate of candidacy is not considered as an official candidate until the campaign period, though premature campaigning, even if is not punishable does not makes it right. It is wrong because there is a mandated campaign period to be followed.
For the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections, the 90 days campaign period for national candidates is from February 11 until May 10, while local candidates have 45 days of campaign period from March 23 to May 10, except on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
