IATF, Comelec to tackle proposed ban on face-to-face campaigns during 2022 elections

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will discuss the proposed ban on face-to-face campaign during 2022 polls.

At the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, the government’s COVID-19 response chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said election campaigns prompt close contacts.

“'Yun po ay tatalakayin natin with the Comelec kasi talaga pong nakikita natin na malaki po 'yun na challenge at risk, ‘yung magkakaroon po ng face-to-face crowd gathering,” Galvez said.

“Nakikita po natin ‘yung pagkakampanya po it will enhance ‘yung close contacts with different people,” he added.

On Tuesday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that the commission was considering a ban on face-to-face campaigning as the country was still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As far as the Comelec is concerned the pandemic won't be over for quite a while in all practical terms," Jimenez said.

With this measure, Jimenez said activities like the giving out of materials and going outside to talk to people during campaigns might be prohibited.

"Again, we are particularly concerned about face-to-face encounters between campaigners and the public because that's where your spread is going to happen,” he said.

“And it won't matter how COVID-safe the actual election day is, if campaign pa lang people are already spreading the virus through careless and irresponsible acts," he added. -MDM, GMA News