PLAY DOWN. A multi-cab roams the streets of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique's capital town, as the local campaign period starts Friday (March 25, 2022). Antique Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceno said they are appealing to candidates and their supporters to regulate the noise from their mobile sound systems. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Commission on Election (Comelec) is appealing to candidates here to regulate their mobile sound system as the local campaign started on Friday.
Provincial Election Supervisor Lawyer Wil Arceño, in an interview, said they are just sending an appeal as there is neither regulation nor sanction on the very loud mobile sound systems that play recorded campaign songs.
“We are appealing for the candidates and their supporters to be considerate also of other people,” he said.
The loud noise from the sound system has awakened people in several municipalities of the province as early as 5 a.m. that some netizens also posted the same call on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Arceño said they will conduct a provincewide “Operation Baklas” or removal of oversized posters of candidates and those not in the public common poster areas on March 28.
“We have already made coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other government agencies for the province-wide operation,” he said.
The Comelec officer has advised candidates to inquire from their respective municipal election officers about the designated common poster areas, which are placed mostly in the town plazas.
Campaign posters should only be two feet by three feet in size, he added.
Since the province of Antique is under Alert Level 2 then the local candidates no longer have to seek a permit from the Comelec for them to launch in-person campaign, caucus, and motorcade, but they just have to request a permit from the local government unit (LGU) if they will be using public venues for their rallies and other activities.
“We also remind candidates that they are no longer allowed to conduct medical-dental mission or give anything of value to the voting public,” Arceño said. (PNA)
