The Commission on Elections in Bacolod City started conducting a voter’s education campaign in the barangays of Bacolod City on Jan. 28 and has about eight remaining barangays to visit, Bacolod Election Officer Ryan Castro said Saturday.

Castro said they have also started removing posters of national candidates posted outside the common poster areas in Bacolod City, some hanged on trees and electric posts.

They started removing them last week at San Juan Street up to Lacson Street, as well as, Rizal Street along the plaza, since candidates are prohibited from posting campaign materials in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral, Castro said.

He said the plaza has been designated as a common poster area except the side facing the Church.

Castro said they have come up with a list of all the locations where national and partylist candidates can have their common poster areas as mandated by Comelec Resolution No. 8758 promulgated last Feb. 4, 2010.

Each barangay can have one common poster area for a minimum of 5,000 voters, he said. Another poster area can be set up in the barangay if it has an additional 5,000 voters, he added.

Castro said a common poster area does not refer to the place but the structure where the candidates can commonly put their posters.

Since the campaign period for the national and partylist candidates has started, he is appealing to all the candidates to respect the law by posting their campaign materials in designated common poster areas only.

Castro suggested that they ask permission from private property owners to put their posters so that these will not be removed.

He said they can not yet remove illegally posted campaign materials of local candidates since their campaign period starts on March 26 yet.*CGS

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