Campaign on social media eyed in poll expense cap

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) plans to include the campaign expenses on social media in the spending limit for candidates in the May 2019 midterm elections.

“We are looking at the possibility of strengthening monitoring of the expenses that go into materials which are propagated via social media,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview.

While posting and sharing information on social media is free, Jimenez said the poll body would come up with rules covering the cost of production.

The use of social media itself will not be regulated, he said.

Cost implications

“It’s what you put on social media that’s going to be monitored for cost. For example, you put out a video that features a singer … what will be its cost implications?” he said.

“All of those have cost. So once you get that cost, ultimately, that’s what you’re going to need to report as part of your campaign expenses,” he said.

Under the rules, candidates with political parties, other than those running for President and Vice President, are allowed to spend P3 per registered voter.