COMELEC Thanks DFA for Successful Conduct of 2019 Midterm Elections Overseas
From left: Commissioner Rowena Guanzon (COMELEC-OFOV), Acting Vice-Chairman Edgardo Castro (DFA-OVS), Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bart Sinocruz Jr., Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, and Commissioner Al Parreño. (DFA photo)
MANILA 28 August 2019 — In recognition of its efforts to ensure the successful conduct of the 2019 Senatorial and Party List Elections overseas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was feted in a Commendation Luncheon by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Office for Overseas Voting hosted a Thanksgiving and Commendation on 15 August 2019 at the Red Jade in Manila Hotel.
Present during the event were COMELEC Commissioner-in-Charge for Overseas Voting Ma. Rowena Guanzon, DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Senior Special Assistant Roy B. Ecraela, who represented Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Maria Lumen B. Isleta, DFA-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) Acting Vice-Chairman Edgardo O. Castro, and other officials and staff.
The DFA-OVS also received a plaque of appreciation for its invaluable support, guidance, and partnership with the Commission in the conduct of election activities for overseas voting.
Delivering Secretary Locsin’s remarks, Senior Special Assistant Ecraela extended DFA’s gratitude to COMELEC for “providing cash advance to cover for the postage funds for the mailing of the ballots to overseas voters of Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) who employed Postal Voting; providing guidance and technical expertise in the operations of Vote Counting Machines and the transmission of election results; providing administrative and operational assistance during the conduct of the 30-day voting period; and continuing support for the promotion of overseas voting.”
Since overseas voting is still a work in progress “guidelines or policy for the reverse logistics of all OV-related equipment, materials, and paraphernalia after the conclusion of each OV registration/election exercise,” are being proposed.
Another recommendation is to include in the appropriation of DFA-OVS funds/budget all the expenses related to FSP’s implementation of overseas voting, except for Honoraria, registration and election equipment, and accountable forms and materials in order to minimize, if not totally eliminate, FSPs problems regarding storage and the tedious process of reimbursing cash advances made by FSPs in the implementation of the said law.”
The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing, the Philippine Consulate General in Geneva, and the Philippine Embassy in Yangon were recognized for having the largest percentage of voters turn-out for posts adopting the manual election system. The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, the Philippine Embassy in Canberra and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, were also acknowledged for gathering the largest percentage of voters turn-out for posts adopting an automated election system.
The Philippine Embassy in Brunei, the Philippine Embassy in Athens, and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore was recognized for its early transmission of their election results to the the National Board of Canvassers at the Philippine International Convention Center.
With the previous elections behind and as a new registration cycle approaches, the DFA reported that the 2019 Senatorial and Party List Elections had the highest voter turn-out for a midterm election, and the second highest only to the 2016 Presidential Elections since the implementation of Philippine overseas voting. END
From left: Principal Assistant Glenn Teh (DFA-OCA), Acting Vice Chairman Edgardo Castro (DFA-OVS), Director Pablito Mendoza (DFA-OEA), Commissioner Al Parreño, Assistant Secretary Maria Lumen Isleta (DFA-OAA), Commissioner Rowena Guanzon (COMELEC-OFOV), Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, and Senior Special Assistant Roy Ecraela (DFA-OUCSCC). (DFA photo)
On 22 August 2019, COMELEC celebrated its 79th anniversary by hosting a Stakeholders Appreciation Night at Manila Hotel.
The celebration was led by COMELEC Chairman Sheriff M. Abas, and in attendance were various representatives of stakeholders that collaborated with COMELEC in the 2019 National and Local Elections.
In thanking the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Chairman Abas stated that the Department “largely contributed in ensuring that even our overseas workers are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.” He further stated that “aminado kami na malaki ang kontribusyon ng overseas voting para masiguro na maayos ang patakbo ng ating halalan.” (We recognize that overseas voting contributes significantly to ensuring that our elections run smoothly.)
The DFA, through the different Embassies and Consulates General, have been vigilant in reporting to the COMELEC, whatever bugs or problems that they initially encounter in the early stages of the overseas voting. This helps us prevent these problems from being encountered in the actual day of the regular elections.”
Chairman Abas thanked all the stakeholders, both from the public and private sectors, and acknowledge their contributions in achieving an honest, orderly, transparent, and credible elections, stating that through the combined efforts of COMELEC and its stakeholders, “the Filipino people continue to have high trust to our electoral process.” END