MANILA, (PNA) –Candidates in the barangay elections will have a fresh campaign period schedule after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the new calendar of activities for the village polls in the province of Bohol on November 25.
Comelec Resolution No. 9804, promulgated on Thursday, stated the new schedule of activities in connection with the resetting of the barangays polls to next month.
The poll body has reset the election period for the province from October 26 up to December 10, which is 30 days before and 15 days after, the scheduled polls.
Likewise, it has set the campaign period from November 15 to November 23.
On the other hand, the poll body prohibits any form of campaign activities from the date the COC is filed up to November 14, 2013. Campaigning is also banned on the day before and on election day.
On election day, polling precincts are open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The order also set October 28 and 29 as additional dates for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) exclusively in said province to compensate for the days where the operation of the local Comelec offices was disrupted by the earthquake.
Candidates were also given until December 26 to file their sworn Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
“The resolution is actually the formal resolution postponing the elections in the entire province of Bohol. We already announce this two days ago pero ngayon lang kami naglabas ng formal resolution. It is the formal setting on November 25 of the elections, barangay elections in the entire province of Bohol. We have a new calendar of activities provided for there,” said Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes in an interview.
On the other hand, resolution stated that they decided to postpone the October 28 Barangay polls in Bohol since it would be most appropriate and practical.
“The postponement will secure to the full extent the safety of the electorate by allowing the local government units (LGUs) concerned enough time to thoroughly inspect the structural integrity of the school buildings in the Province, the effect and/or prejudice in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts, the geological condition in Bohol and the need to afford the people in Bohol ample time to rebuild their homes and normalize their lives,” the resolution said.
“The conduct of election requires the full cooperation of the LGUs and the unhindered utilization of their manpower, resources and machinery; that pursuing the elections in Bohol as scheduled can affect and/or prejudice the ongoing relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the earthquake, to which we concede is of primordial importance,” the resolution further said.