COMELEC bans PDA during election campaign

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will ban handshaking, kissing, and other “public displays of affection” or PDAs during the campaign for the May 2022 general elections, according to its spokesman James Jimenez during a House Committee hearing chaired by Bulacan representative Rida Robes. Jimenez said that these “will certainly be very risky amid the pandemic.”
The spokesperson also informed that distribution of food during campaign events would not be allowed. The COMELEC will, however, allow limited mass gatherings for campaign activities, but will be restricted on attendance and venue capacities. Jimenez also said that barangays will play a big role in ensuring safety measures.
COMELEC is also preparing the guidelines on media coverage of the campaign.
Online campaigning would most likely be considered.