CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has urged fellow candidates to remove campaign posters from prohibited areas as the election campaign period begins.
He also vowed to remove campaign materials, including his own and his party’s posters, placed in restricted areas.
During a press conference on Monday, Feb. 10, Garcia ordered the City Administrator’s Office to act on the City Council’s previous directive to clear tarpaulins, posters, and other election materials improperly placed along roads.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. raised concerns about campaign materials—both from local and national candidates—being nailed to trees and posted in restricted areas.
Alcover cited Republic Act 3571, which prohibits cutting, damaging, or destroying trees, plants, and shrubs in public spaces, such as roads, plazas, parks, and school premises.
Violators could face imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to six years and one day.
“It harms the environment, and I acknowledge that even some of my own posters may have violated these rules. No one is exempt. All illegal materials will be removed,” Garcia said.
Coordination
Garcia has tasked the City Administrator’s Office to coordinate with teams from the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement Unit, City Environmental and Sanitation Enforcement Team, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to clear these posters placed in non-designated areas.
Garcia is running for Cebu City mayor under the Kusug-Panaghiusa alliance in the midterm elections on May 12.
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, the campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates will begin.
The campaign period for local candidates will run from March 28 to May 10.
Under Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10730, campaign materials must not be placed in: (a) public infrastructure and properties such as lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages, pedestrian overpasses, (b) trees, plants, and shrubs, (c) schools, public buildings, and government offices, (d) places of worship, (e) private properties without owner’s consent, and (f) Comelec-controlled areas.
Candidates who violate these restrictions may face disqualification, removal from office if elected, fines, or imprisonment.
The guidelines also dictate that campaign posters must only be the size of short or long bond paper and tarpaulins up to 2 by 3 feet, which are allowed in designated common poster areas.
Larger posters must only be placed at campaign headquarters or candidates’ residences.
On Feb. 11, Comelec will launch “Oplan Baklas,” a nationwide operation to remove campaign materials placed in restricted areas. The Prosecutor’s Office, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Public Works and Highways will assist in the enforcement. / EHP