With only three days left before the February 9 start of the 90-day campaign period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued guidelines for the conduct of election campaign and partisan political activity as defined under Republic Act 9006, the Fair Election Practices Act.

The 20-page guidelines, contained in Comelec en banc Resolution 8758 signed by Chairman Jose A.R. Melo and Commissioners Rene V. Sarmiento, Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Lucenito N. Tagle, Armando C. Velasco, Elias R. Yusoph, and Gregorio Y. Larrazabal, define what are allowed and prohibited during the campaign period, including the use and employment of press, radio, and television facilities and the placement of political advertisements.

Under the guidelines, the Comelec is required to supervise the placement of political advertisements in publications, radio, and television to ensure that candidates are given equal opportunities under equal circumstances to make known their qualifications and their stand on public issues within the limits set forth in the Omnibus Election Code, RA 9006, and Resolution 8758 of the poll body.

Election propaganda, whether on free or cable television, radio, newspaper or any other medium, are allowed for all registered political parties, national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations participating under the party-list system subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates, political parties, and party-list groups, organizations or coalition.

For candidates for President and Vice President, the authorized expenditure is P10 per registered voter.

Other candidates with political party and those without support from any political party can only spend P3 for every voter registered in the constituency where he filed his certificate of candidacy.

Campaigning is prohibited on April 1 (Maundy Thursday), April 2 (Good Friday), May 9 (eve of Election Day), and May 10 (Election Day).

A mass media columnist, commentator, announcer, reporter, on air correspondent, or personality who is a candidate for any elective public office, will be deemed resigned or will take a leave of absence from work during the campaign period.

The Comelec deputized the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Philippine Association of Private Telephone Companies (PAPTELCO), Kapisanan ng mga Brodcasters ng Pilipinas (KBP), Commission on Information and Communications Techology (CICT) and the Telecommunications Operators of the Philippines (TOP) to conduct, in coordination with the Comelec Information and Education Department, regular information campaign on the proper use of any medium of communication.