THE wearing of face shields will no longer be mandatory on Election Day, according to the new guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for this year’s May 9 elections.
Under the poll body’s New Normal Manual, the wearing of face shields when voting inside polling precincts is now voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1.
“Always wear face masks and face shields and observe other minimum public health standards while inside the voting center. (But) For areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1, the use of face shields shall be voluntary,” the manual stated.
The Comelec earlier made the wearing of face shields mandatory while inside voting centers and polling precincts under Resolution No. 10727.
Aside from easing its face shield policy, the Comelec said voters are likewise not required to present their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination cards before they are allowed to cast their votes.
“(The Comelec however) encourages all health workers and voters to get vaccinated,” said the poll body.
Also, the Comelec reiterated that voters are mandated to undergo non-contact temperature check upon entering the premises, and those who would register a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and higher will be brought to the onsite medical personnel for further check-up.
“If evaluated to be with fever, voter may proceed to the IPP (isolation polling place) to vote,” it said.
The poll body also said that everybody is required to observe physical distancing of at least one meter, and to sanitize their hands at the sanitation station before entering the polling place.
The New Normal Manual was developed to address the Comelec’s response to and management of all processes concerning the pandemic and post-pandemic new normal work situations.
It has two parts, namely electoral (processes or activities comprising the complete election cycle), and functional (activities relating to or in connection with the administrative and operational work processes in the Comelec offices).
OPERATION BAKLAS
Elections spokesman James Jimenez yesterday said candidates in the May 9 polls are not exempted from possible charges stemming from the use of oversized and misplaced campaign paraphernalia.
“Candidates may also be held liable if it is proven that he is aware of these illegal campaign materials and he is allowing these things to continue. In that case, the accountability will definitely reach the candidate,” Jimenez said.
And despite the controversy created by the undertaking, Jimenez said “Operation Baklas” will continue.
“It will continue, of course. It is not the whole Operation Baklas that is controversial, but only those involving private properties. But for the streets, those in public places, those hanging in electric cables, we will continue taking them down,” Jimenez said in a televised public hearing.
Jimenez said the poll body is open to suggestions and recommendations from stakeholders on how to improve the scheme. “The Comelec is willing to review the policy,” he added.
As for those looking to file suits against the Comelec, Jimenez said they remain welcome.
Last week, the camps of presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Panfilo Lacson assailed the Comelec’s operation, particularly on taking down campaign materials posted on private properties.
In addition, Robredo’s camp has already expressed that they are considering legal action to challenge the Comelec’s actions.
The Comelec stressed that it is part of their mandate to bring down campaign materials that are out of size and out of place.
Two months before the target deadline, the National Printing Office (NPO) is already nearing its peak capacity in printing the official ballots for the May 9 polls.
In a televised public briefing, Elections spokesman James Jimenez said the printing of official ballots is going smoothly with the daily output now nearing one million pieces.
“Once we reach peak capacity, we may exceed the one million ballots printed per day,” he said.
So far, Jimenez said, there are already around 17 million printed ballots for the May 9 elections. In all, a total of 67,442,714 ballots are to be printed for the poll exercise.
The Comelec and the NPO are looking to complete ballot printing by April 21, at the latest.
Meanwhile, the Comelec said its public demonstration of the vote counting machines (VCMs) is also ongoing.
Jimenez said they have been bringing the VCMs to different communities and institutions to demonstrate its operation.
“All across the country, our officers bring out VCMs to different communities to show to the public how the machines look, how it works, and how it will be used on Election Day,” said Jimenez.
The Comelec owns a total of 97,345 units of voting machines.
In addition, the poll body has also leased an additional 10,000 VCM units to be used in the coming elections.
DSWD EXEMPTION
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said it will ask the Comelec within the week to exempt some of its cash aid programs from the public spending ban during the election period.
The agency’s spokeswoman Director Irene Dumlao said the DSWD is just collating its data and will finalize its request once they determine the exact programs that they would ask to be exempted.
Dumlao said the department is hoping the Comelec would act favorably on its request so they can proceed with their social assistance programs and services even during the election season.
“The agency is again expecting a positive decision from Comelec on our request for issuance for exemption to continue the implementation of programs and be able to help our countrymen especially with the threat pandemic being there,” Dumalo said.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10747, a certificate of exemption is needed to implement activities and programs on social welfare projects and services amid the public spending ban from March 25 to May 8, 2022.
Albay Representative Joey Salceda said DSWD should seek an exemption to prevent delays in the programs such as the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and other social amelioration programs which are needed at this time of crisis.
SOCIAL ADVOCACY
While clergy men and lay members have started endorsing their choice candidates for the May 9 polls, the social advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday guaranteed that it will remain non-partisan in the forthcoming elections.
In a statement, Caritas Philippines National Director Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said the organization as well as all 85 Diocesan Social Action Centers across the country shall remain non-partisan as in the past.
“We are very clear with our stand and it is that Caritas Philippines is non-partisan. This is also true with our Diocesan Social Action Centers,” said Bagaforo, adding: “We remain faithful to our mandate with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to ensure clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections.”
Despite this, the prelate assured that the Catholic Church in the Philippines will remain partisan when it comes to social and moral issues.
“The Church can and will never be neutral in the face of social and moral issues. We will proclaim what is true, just, and right. That is our moral obligation. We will speak and act in favor of human rights, the sacredness of life, ecology, and the truth, among others,” he said.
In a related development, the PPCRV has released a 12-page online comics strip to help educate voters in choosing their candidates come May 9.
The comics has Taglish version, while its Ilonggo and full Tagalog versions of the comics will be released in the coming weeks.
The PPCRV is an accredited citizens’ arm of the Comelec. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
