DILG directs PNP, LGUs to strictly enforce health protocols ahead of campaign period

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs) to strictly implement health protocols to prevent spread of COVID-19 infections ahead of the campaign period.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año urged PNP and LGU officials to ensure that minimum public health standards (MPHS) are enforced depending on the alert level during in-person campaigns, rallies, caucuses, meetings and conventions, motorcades and caravans, and miting de avance.

“Sisiguraduhin po nating tumutupad ang mga LGU sa Comelec Resolution 10732 bilang pagtitiyak na magiging ligtas ang ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng kampanya. We are facing a much transmissible variant kaya naman hindi tayo dapat magpabaya maging ngayong panahon ng halalan,” Año said in a statement.

(We will make sure that the LGUs comply with Comelec Resolution 10732 to ensure that our countrymen will be safe during the campaign period. We are facing a much transmissible variant so we should not neglect health protocols during the election season.)

“Una pa din ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan kaya mariing ipinapaalala ng DILG ang pagsunod ng LGUs at PNP sa mga panuntunan ng Comelec,” he added.

(The health and safety of our countrymen is still a priority, so the DILG strongly reminds the LGUs and PNP to follow the rules of the Comelec.)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier issued a resolution outlining the guidelines for the conduct of election-related activities amid the Omicron variant threat.

Año also directed the LGUs to adopt measures and strategies in compliance to the Comelec resolution.

Meanwhile, the DILG chief also called the PNP to maintain order and security in coordination with the barangay officials, tanods, and the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams.

The Comelec said candidates in Eleksyon 2022 are prohibited from shaking the hands of voters during the campaign period amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is provided under Comelec Resolution 10372 on the guidelines for the conduct of the in-person campaign, rallies, caucuses, meetings/conventions, motorcades and caravans, and miting de avance.

The Comelec resolution also imposed restrictions on motorcades since only candidates, campaign leaders, and supporters belonging to the same household would be allowed to be in the same vehicle.

Likewise, motorcades in areas under Alert Levels 1 to 4 should not have stopovers, layovers, and other similar stoppages for the conduct of other election campaign activities.

The campaign period for candidates running for national posts starts on February 9. The campaign period for local candidates, on the other hand, starts on March 9.

The 2022 national and local election is set on May 9.— Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA News