Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may prohibit face-to-face campaigning for the May 2022 national and local polls.

"Activities like giving out materials or going out talking to people face to face for campaign purposes that's gonna change. Door-to-door campaign might be prohibited," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez told the ANC Tuesday.

"I"m not very certain exactly at this moment whether or not such a prohibition will actually be declared but we will be coordinating with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)," he added.

Jimenez said they were particularly concerned about the face-to-face encounter between campaigners and the public because that is where the spread of the disease will happen.

"It won't matter how COVID-safe the actual election day is, if in the campaign only the people are already spreading the virus," he said.

With the situation, Jimenez said there will probably be more rules regarding campaign rules,see active encouragement on online  campaigning as well as making new avenues available for online  campaigning in the next polls.

"Certainly there will be changes in the way people do things," he said.