MANILA, Philippines — Both candidates and the electorate would benefit greatly from a longer campaign period, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

At a press conference in Makati City on Monday, Enrile expressed support for a House-approved bill to allow partisan or political activities even after the certificates of candidacy (CoCs) have been filed.

"I am in favor of lengthening the campaign period especially for those who are newcomers in politics. They need a longer time to go around the country and even those who are exposed nationally. They need a longer time to visit towns and cities and provinces. The 90-day period for national officials is too short," he said.

"Given the nature of our geography and topography, we are broken into islands, you travel long distances and difficult terrain. During election time you use helicopter. Even then it's very tedious so I think a longer period is needed," he added.

The Senate President stressed that voters would also have more time to assess the candidates if the campaign period is extended.

PDP-Laban Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. of Makati authored House Bill 6926 amending the Omnibus Election Code to allow political activity during the campaign hiatus, which will be immediately from the time the CoC is filed until the start of the official campaign period.

The campaign period for national positions will be from Feb. 9 to May 8, 2010, while those running for local positions can campaign from March 25-May 8.

The bill has been passed in the Lower House, but Enrile said he only learned of it Monday.

"I think it's just a matter of extending the campaign period which I think is a wise move. It's better to just look at the House version and if we agree with that, we wrap it and we can certify. We can pass it in one day," he said.

Locsin was reportedly prompted by the Supreme Court decision on a Surigao del Norte mayor who was found guilty of violating the provision of the Election Code when she went around on a motorcade after filing her CoC.

The Commission on Elections has warned candidates of being charged with premature campaigning during the banned period. Politicians were told to stop airing their infomercials or put down their tarpaulins or streamers lest they face electioneering raps.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay echoed Locsin's concerns on the issues that arose from the high court's ruling, particularly on what constituted "premature campaigning."

"Ang daming magiging problema dito, pati yung pagkakamay, di mo malaman ... eh baka ilang libong kaso ang abutin ng Comelec dito. (A lot of problems could arise from this, even with handshakes, you can’t be certain ... the Comelec might find itself burdened with thousands of cases.)," he said.

"You can just imagine, here comes a candidate, gusto mong sirain yung candidate na yun, palabasin mo lang na nagkakamay o eto nagkakampanya. Ang dami-daming confusion niyan (a candidate whom you want to destroy, simply equate his handshakes with campaigning. That’s a lot of confusion)," said Binay, who is running for vice president.

Enrile said that though he supported Locsin's move, he would still have to study if the amendment would be Constitutional.

"I would like to see how this will fit with the Constitution and of course you're going to amend the election code. I will look into that and pass it if it reaches us," he said.