February 9, 2010 is the set date for the start of the campaign period for national candidates (president, vice president, senators and party-list) for May 2010 elections. This means the battle has begun. All of our candidates together with their political party, staff and supporters will going to be busy touring the country just to please every single voter by shaking their hands, conducting political rally where they can express their platforms and promises if ever they win. Other candidates will invade every timeslot available in every television or radio programs while others want their faces and names be printed and posted in the sidewalks or hung on trees and electrical posts along highways, all just to attract or to get the attentions of the voters.
However, there are certain guidelines on how will these candidates run their campaigns especially those aiming for national positions. The Commission on Elections made specific rules as far as campaign paraphernalia and campaign budget are concerned. Some of my known rules are as follows:
• Banner or streamers of candidates shall not be posted or put on trees and cable wires.
• Leaflets of candidates to be distributed shall not exceed long size bond paper
• Campaign paraphernalia shall not be posted on government properties, bridges, highways and schools. It should be posted on a private property provided it is approved by the owner. There shall also be common place where to put all these campaign paraphernalia (i.e. plaza, a certain portion of a barangay etc.
• For advertisements in television, a candidate is only allocated 120 minutes of air-time for the whole duration of the campaign and 180 minutes air-time on radio.
• A candidate shall only spend 10pesos per voter for national and 3pesos per voter for local candidates.
• For advertisement over newspaper, it shall be ¾ of a page for broadsheets and ½ of a page only for tabloids.
These rules together with other guidelines not mentioned will be strictly watched by COMELEC as part of their job to deliver an honest and clean election.
Millions of pesos will again be spent by these candidates just to buy a seat in the government, be in national and local executive or national and local legislatives. The Philippines was said to be one of the most expensive elections around the world. But according to economists, the election period could give good effects to our economy for it create part-time jobs like campaign staff, distributor of campaign paraphernalia, etc. Some businesses earn a lot especially the food and transportation for it is the primary needs during campaign period.
But for me it is a disadvantage, they spend millions just for a job that earns them less than 50,000 a month or 3.6 million only in their 6 years term at most. Maybe this system for me is the primary motivator for some of our politicians to engage in corruption. They spend their hard earn money for the sake of public service? Maybe true of some but not for every one of them.
Also during the campaign period we know more about the candidates. What are their backgrounds, their vision and mission for our country, what are their plans for our country and for those who are into poverty, jobless, and those who are hopeless. Again, these sweet words are all promises, all of them of course will do the same, say some good things as they promise more jobs, improve quality of living, affordable and accessible education etc. this is also the time of voters to know each of the candidates, which of them has the guts and the political will to lift our country back to the top, the candidate that understands what the poor needs, the candidate that is really sincere to serve his countrymen.
The candidates have 3 months to convince voters throughout the country to vote them. It means we also have 3 months to know these candidates well. It’s time for us Filipinos to stand for our country. We must be vigilant and aware of these candidates, their backgrounds among others. It’s time for us especially the youth to become active when it comes to social issues. We must not forget that we are the future leaders of this country and what decisions we make today will affect what will look like tomorrow. Have time to read and listen to every campaign materials you can access for it increases your interests and awareness.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO VOTE RIGHT! VOTE WISELY!
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