Comelec cuts allowed airtime

CEBU, Philippines -  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cut down the total allowed airtime for political advertisements in radio and television.   

From the 120 minutes of approved airtime for each media outlet in the past elections, the new airtime approved by Comelec is 120 minutes for all outlets for the entire campaign period.

Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that this provision was not clear in the Fair Elections Act in the past. But the Comelec has made a resolution that the 12-minute airtime of political advertisement would be practical as far as the approved budget for each candidate is concerned.

According to the Omnibus Election Code, each candidate is allowed to spend P3 per voter and P5 per voter for political parties.

Castillano said that if the practice of 120 minutes for airtime for each media outlet would be practiced, then the budget limit for each candidate would be exceeded.

National candidates are allowed 120 minutes for TV ads and 180 minutes for radio while local candidates are allowed 60 minutes and 90 minutes for TV and radio, respectively.

Castillano admitted that there have been media outlets against this amendment but he said that they need to regulate to promote equal exposure of the candidates.

“Kadtong datu na kandidato, they can saturate all stations with political campaign propagandas. This would also result in them exceeding the limit on campaign finance,” he said.

For monitoring, Castillano said that media outlets would be the one to inform their education and information department on the contracts of candidates for advertisement.

He said that candidates should also be cautious on the limit of their airtime if they would not want to violate the law.

Castillano, however, said this may still change depending on discussions they would have with media outlets.

“Comelec would always welcome inputs from media outlets,” said the Comelec provincial director.

One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Pablo John Garcia said that he is not in favor of reducing airtime since they are able to save money more when placing political ads than the traditional campaigning.  

“I’ve always believed that the great equalizer in any election is the access to mass media. Although you have to spend money for that but that is cheaper than a candidate going around the country. Traditional propaganda is very expensive. Suma total, mas barato if you expose yourself to mass media,” said Rep. Garcia.  (FREEMAN)