Potential candidates in the May 2022 polls will start filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) Friday, Oct. 1.
Those running for national positions such as for President, Vice President, Senator and Party-List will file their COCs and their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination at the Garden tent of Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
For other elective positions: Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Office of the Regional Director, NCR; for Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in provinces at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor concerned; for Members of the House of
Representatives for legislative districts in cities outside the NCR, which comprise one or more legislative districts at the Office of the City Election Officer concerned designated for the purpose by the Regional Election Director.
For Governor, Vice-Governor, Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the Office of the Provincial Election
Supervisor; Mayor, Vice-Mayor in cities with more than one Election Officer at the Office of the City Election Officer concerned designated for the purpose by the Regional Election Director; Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod in cities with more than one Election Officer at the Office of the City Election Officer of the district concerned.
For Mayor, Vice Mayor, Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod in cities with only one legislative district at the Office of the City Election Officer; for Municipal Mayor, Municipal Vice-Mayor, Member, Sangguniang Bayan at the Office of the Municipal Election Officer; for Members of the Parliament of the BARMM at the Office of the Regional Election Director(Cotabato City, Marawi City and Zamboanga City).
With the continued threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the poll body is limiting the number of companions of filers as part of their health and safety measures.
"Candidates from President to Senator we allow a maximum of three companions," Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said in a television interview Wednesday, Sept. 29.
He said Party-Lists can only have one companion.
"We will traffic the flow of candidates one at a time. It will be on a first come, first serve basis," said Abas.
For his part, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they want the COC filing activities to be sober that's why they opted to transfer the COC filing for national posts at Sofitel.
"One of the main things of the filing of COCs this year is that we really went to great extent to make sure that the filing would be sober," he said.
"We located it there to provide better security for our filers and prevent crowds from forming outside the filing area," added Jimenez.
In Resolution No. 10717, the Comelec said all COC filers must also present negative RT-PCR test or antigen test results.
"For aspirants for the positions of President, Vice-President, Senator, RT-PCR test or antigen test taken within the last 24 hours prior to filing of COC/CONA, indicating a negative result shall be required," the poll body said.
The RT-PCR or antigen test shall also be required from the authorized representative of the aspirants; chairperson, president, secretary-general authorized or representative of the PP, sectoral party, organization or coalition for the party-list system; companions of the aspirants and representative of the political party, sectoral party, organization or coalition for the party-list system; personnel of the Commission in charge of receiving COCS/CONAS and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination; the Organic Security Force personnel of the Commission; AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP); and all media personnel covering the event.
"Any person without negative antigen testing result shall not be allowed access in the receiving office or venue for filing," it said.
The Comelec said all persons shall be required to wear well-fitting masks (surgical mask, N95, KN95) that completely cover their nose and mouth; and face shields at all times, while inside the premises of the receiving office or venue for filing.
"Persons wearing cloth masks, with or without filter, as well as masks with valves shall not be allowed inside the premises, unless there is another layer of surgical mask, N95 or KN95," it said.
"Physical or social distancing within the premises shall likewise be strictly observed," added Comelec.
The poll body said all persons entering the receiving office or venue for filing shall sanitize their hands and pass through the foot bath.
"Further, the receiving office shall limit the number of aspirants entering the venue for the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination, taking into consideration among others, the space, physical set-up or layout of the receiving area, work force a given day and the 5 p.m. cut-off for filing," it said.
The Comelec said all persons shall be subjected to health checks including but not limited to temperature screening and accomplishment of Health Declaration Form issued by the Commission.
It added that any person intending to enter the venue for the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination, who registers a body temperature of 37.5C and above "shall not be allowed to enter the venue yet, and shall be advised to take a rest for five minutes before another temperature screening shall be conducted."
If the temperature remains unchanged, the Comelec said, such person shall not be allowed to enter the venue and shall be endorsed to the local health officer concerned.
"In case a person intending to enter the venue to file a COC/CONA or Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination is showing any of the symptoms for COVID19 or answered any of the questions in the Health Declaration Form with YES, such person shall not be allowed to enter the venue and shall be endorsed to the local health officer concerned," it said.
"For aspirant with COVID19 symptoms, the authorized representative of the aspirant may file the COC/CONA before the expiration of the period for the filing thereof, subject to the health. and safety measures," said Comelec.
The poll body said all persons permitted to enter the receiving office or venue shall strictly follow all safety and health measures imposed, as well as those imposed by the building where the receiving office or venue for filing is located, the IATF-EID and the Local Government Unit concerned.
All aspirants and authorized representatives of party-list groups, the Comelec said, shall bring their own pens during the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination.
"In order to expedite the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination and reduce wait times, aspirants and authorized representatives of party-list groups shall ensure that information in the certificates are properly filled-out," it said.
"All aspirants and authorized representatives of party-list groups shall immediately leave the premises of the receiving office/venue after the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination," added Comelec.
"Everyone shall be encouraged observe healthy hygiene to maintain healthy environment within the premises/venue for the filing of COC/CONA and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of Nomination," it said.
The Comelec has set the filing of COC from Oct. 1 to 8, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.