INTRAMUROS, Manila — So far, only slightly over 5,000 candidates for next year’s national and local elections (NLE) have registered their social media accounts with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Data from the country’s poll body showed that 3,904 candidates submitted their online registration as of Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Among them are 24 are senatorial bets, 3,775 local aspirants and 105 representatives of party-list organizations.

On the other hand, 2,096 aspirants submitted hard copies.

According to Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia, the Comelec is reminding candidates to fulfill this requirement as soon as possible as the deadline for the registration of online campaign platforms has been set for next week, December 13, 2024.

The poll body said that there will be no extension.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 11064, all candidates, parties, and their campaign teams are mandated to register all of their official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs and other online and internet-based campaign platforms before the Comelec education and information division within 30 calendar days after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC).

An election task force will review the applications and will be endorsed to the Commission en banc. Approved registration will be published on Comelec’s official website and social media accounts

Earlier, the Comelec amended the resolution, exempting privately owned accounts endorsing candidates from the mandated registration.