Campaign Period Starts Now

It is official. The campaign period for the 2010 National Elections had already started as of this day. The campaign period will last for 90 days and will end on the 8th of April this year. Candidates are now allowed to openly campaign for their candidacy on posters, television and radio ads, and print ads on newspapers and tabloids.

Posters and Banners Everywhere

Candidates are more than ready for the first day of the campaign period as posters and banners were placed everywhere by their supporters. In Manila, any places that could be used to mount political banners and posters are not spared. Banners could be seen hanging on trees, electrical posts, and even electrical wires. Posters are pasted on walls, of private and public establishments, and serve as eyesores to the public.

COMELEC reminded candidates that it is illegal to place their banners and posters outside of the common posting area chosen by the commission. Candidates are told to remove their banners and posters placed outside the common posting area.

However, despite COMELEC’s warning, posters are still placed virtually anywhere. In Manila, on the eve of the first day of the campaign period, supporters of presidential aspirant Dick Gordon were apprehended pasting posters of Dick Gordon, vice-presidential candidate Bayani Fernando, and Manila mayoralty candidate Avelino Razon.

Incumbent officials, on the other hand, use their offices to legally place their name and images on posters everywhere.

Limited to 120 Minutes

For television advertisements, each candidate is limited for a total of 120 minutes of air time for the whole duration of the campaign period. Anyone exceeding the limit will be penalized by COMELEC as a violation of the Fair Elections Act.

Candidates vying for national positions have circumvented the Fair Elections Act by being allowed by the COMELEC to air infomercials before the start of the official campaign period. Major presidential candidates have their own TV and radio infomercials. Presidential aspirant Manny Villar is perceived as the one who spent the most for the infomercials.

Starting Their Campaign

Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando will try to catch the attention of the Filipino voters by touring the country on a truck that was remodeled to look like Optimus Prime. Calling themselves as the “transformers,” Gordon and Bayani believes that there is very appropriate for them.

Noynoy Aquino, on the other hand, will start his campaign tour in his home province, Tarlac, before going to other parts of the country.

Manny Villar and his running mate, Loren Legarda, will start their campaign tour from Jose Rizal’s birthplace at Calamba in the province of Laguna.