MEDIA ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR

COVERAGE OF THE #PiliPinasDebates2016 CDO Round

(FOR THE 2016 NATIONAL, LOCAL, AND ARMM ELECTIONS)
Media accreditation will be granted to members of the press who represent a bona fide media organization.
Bloggers will also be accredited subject to the requirements detailed below.

REQUIREMENTS
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

a fully accomplished Accreditation Application Form;

two (2), recently taken, 2x2 colored photographs; and, where applicable,
an endorsement from Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Assignment Editor, Station Manager, or similar
officer of the newspaper, television, radio station, or online publication employing the applicant;
an endorsement from the appropriate officer of the broadcast organization or film distributor
which has committed to air or distribute the work; or
in the case of freelancers, a valid assignment letter from the bona fide media organization for
which the freelancer is on assignment;
Endorsements from any person other than those mentioned above shall not be honoured,
PROVIDED that the application of freelancers whose previous accomplishments are highly visible,
respected and widely recognized need not be endorsed

In addition, blogs and online publications shall be subject to the following requirements:

a. Submit the URL of the stated online publication or blog showing the applicants name or listing
b.
c.
d.
e.

the applicant as a part of the reporting team for that site;

Submit a copy of regular online articles or blogs, by-lined, published, on the applicants or similar
online sites or blogs, in the last six months related to the topic of politics, elections, governance
or other related topics;
The website or online publication should be updated at least once per week with content which
is original, dated and extends beyond links and forums;
No personal websites, fan sites, forums and sites containing personal diaries will be eligible for
accreditation. Only website editors and writers qualify for accreditation.
Blogs must also be well established, updated at least once every two weeks, contain content on
politics, elections, or related topics, and show an acceptable level of readership. Commercial or
company blogs do not meet the criteria for press accreditation.

Online publications which are communications outreach or advocacy publications of non-governmental

organizations do not qualify for media accreditation.

EID - Media Accreditation Guidelines 1

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION OF MANILA-BASED FOREIGN MEDIA.

In addition to the requirements mentioned in the immediately preceding section, all Manila-based foreign media
requesting for accreditation shall be required to submit an endorsement letter from their Manila Bureau Chief.
APPLICATION FORMS
Application forms for accreditation shall be available at the COMELEC Education and Information Department
(COMELEC-EID). Application forms may also be downloaded from http://facebook.com/comelec.ph.

PERIOD FOR FILING APPLICATIONS FOR ACCREDITATION

The period for filing applications for accreditation shall be from 15-19 February 2016 to 19 October 2015. This
period shall be non-extendible. Applications filed after the last day for filing shall not be entertained.
FILING OF APPLICATIONS FOR ACCREDITATION
Applications for accreditation may be personally filed at the COMELEC-EID, in the case of national and foreign
media, and at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES), In the case of local media.
Recognized news or broadcast organizations, news publications, and online publications may also file applications
for accreditation on behalf of their writers and employees, subject to these guidelines.
COMELEC MEDIA CARD
Upon accreditation, media representatives shall be issued a Media Card which must be personally claimed. The
COMELEC Media Card shall be strictly non-transferable and is valid only for the purpose for which it was issued.
Any abuse thereof shall result in revocation.
The Media Card shall be worn prominently whenever the card-holder is covering the filing of Certificates of
Candidacy for the 2016 National and Local Elections, provided however, that in case COMELEC Media Cards are not
available, an accreditation sticker, signed by the Director IV of the EID or the Provincial Election Supervisor as may
be appropriate, may be issued instead of a media card. The signed sticker shall be affixed on the applicants
current valid Media ID or Press Pass, subject to the same rules of use as the COMELEC Media Card.
RIGHT TO REVOKE
The Commission on Elections reserves the right to revoke media accreditations of those individuals or
organizations whose activities or conduct run counter to the principles and policies of the Commission on
Elections, or who abuse the privileges so extended, or put the accreditation to improper use.

EID - Media Accreditation Guidelines 2