By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental reminded local candidates to follow health protocols when holding political rallies as preventive measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Comelec-Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor Atty. Roberto Salazar said all candidates and parties should observe minimum health standards and protocols as mandated by the National Inter-Agency Task Force.

Candidates and their supporters must still wear their face masks during rallies, although it is okay for the candidates to take them off when addressing their supporters provided that it is done in open areas.

Candidates are also required to submit a certificate of compliance to the health protocols.

Salazar added that under the new rules laid down by poll body’s Resolution 10732, “the permit from the Comelec campaign committee was waived for areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2.”

He said their monitoring is dependent on the permits, and so far the only public rallies they have monitored are those in Bacolod City.

“We have no idea how rallies are conducted in the different cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental,” Salazar said.

Thus far, he said rallies in the province had been “serene and no services of the government had been disturbed.”

The provincial elections supervisor also added they are noting any violations committed by candidates as part of their reports./DGB, WDJ