Senior citizens planning to run for public office will be allowed to physically file their certificates of candidacies (COCs) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) this coming October.
In a latest resolution, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) agreed to include these senior poll aspirants in the list of authorized persons allowed to leave their houses regardless of the quarantine classification of their place.
The decision of the government task force was reached following a meeting Thursday, August 12.
"The IATF allowed persons over the age of 65 to go out of their residences to personally file their certificates of candidacy in the national office and designated field offices of the Commission on Elections," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement Friday, August 13.
"The abovementioned persons shall be recognized as Authorized Persons Outside of Residence from October 1 to 8, 2021, regardless of community quarantine classification and vaccination status," he added.
Under the quarantine rules, the government has required persons below 18 years old, those over 65 years old, those with comorbidity and other health risks, and pregnant women to stay home except for obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries and offices.
The poll body has set the filing of certificate of candidacies for all elective positions for the 2022 elections from October 1 to 8, 2021. The country's official election period will begin on January 9, 2022 and end on June 8, 2022.
The campaign period for national posts will start on Feb. 8, 2022 and end on May 7, 2022. Local candidates may start campaigning on March 25, 2022 until May 7, 2022.