Candidates can start filing their certificates of candidacy for the May 13, 2013 elections on Oct. 1 to 5, or about seven months before the elections.

Comelec-CAR Director Julius Torres said candidates for local posts like congressman, governor, and mayor may start campaigning on March 29 until May 11. They have 90 days to campaign.

For national candidates, the campaign period will start 45 days before election day.

Torres said the election period starts on Jan. 13 and ends on June 13, during which certain practices will already be prohibited.

The October schedule, Torres said, will mean an early start of the political fever nationwide.

Some believe the early schedule of filing of the COC is advantageous for the incumbent officials who would no longer need to resign from their respective positions for the duration of the election season, he said.

The Precinct Count Optical Scan machines will be used during the 2013 midterm elections just like in the 2010 presidential elections, Torres said.