Comelec gears up for 2022 polls

MANILA, Philippines —  After the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will now focus on preparations for the May 2022 national and local polls.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez yesterday welcomed the signing of the law deferring the barangay and SK elections to December 2022.

“The passage of the law finally puts to rest the question of whether or not the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections would be held next year,” Jimenez noted.

“The Comelec will now focus its energies on preparing for the 2022 national and local elections,” he added.

For months there were calls to suspend the barangay and SK elections, but it was only on Tuesday night that President Duterte signed the law to postpone the polls.

Lawmakers said postponing the village elections is necessary to give barangay and SK officials more time to implement their projects since they were only elected last May 2018.

But the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) still expressed opposition to the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.

“We reiterate our position that it is ideal to have periodic scheduled elections as this serves as an accountability mechanism for the voting public,” Namfrel secretary general Eric  Alvia said.

He noted that barangay and SK officials who are performing their jobs well can be given a fresh mandate to continue implementing their programs.

The barangay and SK elections had been postponed thrice under the Duterte administration.

PWD voters

The Comelec is looking for ways to allow over half a million registered persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote in the May 2022 polls.

Jimenez said for the first time, the poll body conducted yesterday voting simulation for PWDs in an effort to make the electoral system more accessible for physically challenged voters.

The number of PWD voters participating in the elections has been increasing, but Jimenez said the Comelec is working for 100 percent turnout of registered PWD voters.

He noted that in the last elections, the Comelec made available emergency accessible polling places to serve PWDs and help them get to vote.

“But the Comelec wants to enhance it further, we can provide more services for PWDs,” he pointed out.

Jimenez said the Comelec has been able to address the problem of accessibility for PWDs and just needs to make PWDs aware of the available services and probably make the process simpler.

Jovencio Balanquit, Comelec National Capital Region (NCR) assistant director, said there was a high turnout of PWD voters during the voting simulation held at the Toro Hills Elementary School in Quezon City.

Balanquit said the PWD voters were asked to submit their recommendations.  

Based on the experience and information gathered from the voting simulation, Jimenez said the Comelec is expected to come out with a resolution providing innovations on election procedures that will  be responsive to the needs of PWDs.