Capacity of indoor venues for campaign sorties still set at 70%

MANILA – The maximum capacity of indoor venues for campaign sorties is still 70 percent even in areas placed under the lowest Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.

“There is nothing else to relax there except the number of people who can enter the venues. It maxes at 70 percent. We want to keep, still don’t want to do 100 percent. Obviously, there is still a pandemic, only Level 1,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a virtual media briefing.

On Sunday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said 39 areas, including the National Capital Region, will be placed under the most lenient Alert Level 1 classification for the first half of March.

Under Alert Level 1, the IATF said there are no restrictions in terms of indoor and outdoor capacities. Everyone can undertake intrazonal and interzonal travel without regard to age and even comorbidities.

All establishments, persons, or activities are likewise allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at total on-site or venue seating capacity, provided these are consistent with minimum public health standards.

“Biggest news for Comelec is the use of face shield. It is only voluntary. Under IATF-EID rules, Level 1 still includes the voluntary use of face shields. As far as everything else is concerned in the campaign, we are already at minimum health protocols, we are doing the barest minimum necessary to keep everyone safe,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec has yet to receive a request to relax their guidelines from the candidates even in areas under Alert Level 1.

“In the meantime, we are still not in receipt of any formal requests to relax our guidelines so we will continue with our guidelines as they are,” Jimenez said. “Our guidelines are calibrated. They are responsive to changes of alert level by IATF.”

Other areas under Alert Level 1 are: Abra, Aklan, Angeles City, Apayao, Aurora, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Bataan, Batanes, Biliran, Bulacan, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Dagupan City, City of Santiago, Davao City, Guimaras, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, La Union, Marinduque, Naga City, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Puerto Princesa City, Quirino, Romblon, Siquijor, Tarlac, and Zamboanga City.

Meanwhile, the poll body together with the Vote Pilipinas and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) launched the Candidate Profile Dashboard where the public will be able to know more about those running for national positions in the May 9 polls.

The information on presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial and party-list aspirants can be accessed through www.votepilipinas.com.

The voters will be provided with candidates’ political and professional experience, among others.

Ces Rondario, the founder of Vote Pilipinas, said the undertaking aims to provide the voters with the backgrounds of those who are seeking to be elected in the forthcoming polls.

On the other hand, PCOO Undersecretary Kris Ablan said the dashboard contains important information about candidates which are available to the electorate.

There are a total of 10 aspirants for president, nine vice-presidential bets, 64 candidates for senators and 178 party-list groups running in the forthcoming polls.