By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday (Feb. 22) said the current national campaign and the upcoming local campaign periods might hinder the country from de-escalating to Alert Level 1.
“Kailangan nating pag-isipan iyan nang mabuti dahil para po sa amin sa DILG, nababahala kami dito sa campaign period. Napakahirap po kasing mag-implement ng public health standards sa panahon ng kampanya,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
He said “it will be much more difficult” for the DILG, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “to enforce the minimum public health standards” when the local campaign period begins.
“So, dapat nating pag-isipan ng mabuti kung tayo ay handa na sa Alert Level 1,” he said.
On making sure the protocols during election campaigns are being observed, Malaya said there are local campaign committees tasked with enforcing proper protocols.
“Sa bawat LGU [local government unit], mayroong tinatawag na local campaign committee. Mayroon iyan sa level ng region, level ng provincial, at level ng city at municipality,” Malaya said.
“Iyang mga campaign committee, iyan ang lead sa implementation of the Comelec resolution insofar as the election campaigns are concerned. Ang PNP ay mayroong standard security team na naka-assign sa lahat ng ating mga kandidato, especially with all the activities being done,” he said. -ag
