The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called on civil society organizations (CSO) and voter education partners to take active roles in ensuring the success of the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) this coming October 13.
“We appeal to all of you —our regional and field election officials, our partners in governance and advocacy, and all CSOs and media/social media entities —to be ambassadors of meaningful elections for BARMM,” said Comelec acting director Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe during a consultative meeting.
Aguindadao-Arabe also emphasized that the Comelec “understands that this electoral exercise did not come easy.”
Meanwhile, Comelec chairman George Garcia said up to 7,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) would be used for the BARMM polls.
“We want to have contingency machines on standby in every polling precinct. We are eyeing a 1:1ratio for ACMs,” Garcia said.
Printing of ballots for the BARMM elections will be done July to August, he said.
On the other hand, Aguindadao-Arabe said the elections seek to achieve meaningful autonomy, lasting peace, and inclusive development in the BARMM.
“Observers from across the globe are looking to our people, our institutions, and our civil society to see how democracy is nurtured, practiced, and upheld by a people that have long yearned for it,” she added.
“For the BARMM Parliamentary Elections, we ask for your renewed commitment to help ensure that voter education reaches every corner of this region,” Aguindadao-Arabe added “The level of voter participation will be the defining measure of how far we’ve come and how determined we are to move forward. That is why voter education and truthful, timely, accessible information are essential,” she said.
