Friday, March 30, 2007 Treñas appeals for clean elections By Kram Pagayon
ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas appeals to his fellow candidates - opposition, administration and independents alike - for a clean May election, and this time he means it, literally.
Although it sounds cliché, the city mayor made it clear that he wants the election to be clean, in the streets, that is. He stressed that campaign posters, stickers, streamers and tarpaulins should NOT be posted in government walls and posts, and particularly lampposts all over the metropolis.
The mayor also said that even the private sector is calling for "clutter-free" city-streets during the election period. They are already helping beautify the city streets, he said. The city looks clean and colorful, stressed the mayor. We should not let the election mania deface it and discourage visitors and foreigners.
In fact, a paint company has volunteered to paint all the posts and walls, including the almost a kilometer-long promenade along the Iloilo River. And this painting job is for free, added Treñas.
Instead, he urged political campaigners to follow the Comelec rules to avoid seeing their campaign materials being ripped-off and demolished. Moreover, he reminded them the Comelec is now very strict in imposing the rules.
The Comelec has formed a task force that will demolish illegally placed campaign posters all over the country. The city engineer's office is helping in the local Comelec's 'demolition job', but the mayor said the city is hand-off in this work as to avoid malice and political backlash. The city government will provide help to the Comelec if there is a request for support, he clarified.
Meantime, the businessmen community laments the fiesta-look of the business area as banners and leaflets line the streets, even stickers on fire hydrants during the poll season. Although they too practice advertising through the print medium, the local business groups loathes streamers and other printed campaign materials, which abound with faces of politicians and other "jokers."
The Omnibus Election Code has specific rules for campaign materials such as pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed materials. Likewise, there is an allowed size for cloth, paper or cardboard posters streamers.
The Comelec common poster areas include public places such as plazas, markets, barangay centers and the like, wherein candidates can post and display election propagandas. Likewise, candidates may post any lawful propaganda material in private places with the consent of the owner.
