QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reaffirmed its commitment to open governance and inclusivity in the electoral process, as Chairperson George Irwin Garcia underscored transparency, accountability, and participation in the 2025 Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (OGP-APRM).
“We honestly believe in the COMELEC that the business of election is not only the business of the Commission on Elections; it is practically the business of everyone,” Garcia said, emphasizing the importance of public involvement in the democratic process.
COMELEC’s dedication to openness has garnered international recognition, receiving four awards, including “Election Commission of the Year.” The agency was also elected vice chair of the Asian Electoral Commission Association and the Association of World Electoral Bodies, further affirming its leadership in electoral governance.
A key focus for COMELEC is inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable sectors. Of the 68.41 million registered Filipino voters, 11 million are elderly, 800,000 belong to indigenous groups, 500,000 are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and 68,000 are persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who have not yet received a final judgment.
To improve voter access, COMELEC will introduce early voting for PWDs and heavily pregnant women, allowing them to cast their ballots between 5:00 to 7:00 AM. Voting in malls will also be expanded to decongest cramped polling centers, while emergency accessible polling precincts will ensure elderly and PWDs vote on the ground floor of school buildings. Indigenous communities in remote areas will no longer need to travel long distances, as polling places will be set up within their barangays.
Moreover, in a groundbreaking initiative, overseas Filipino voters—particularly seafarers—will be able to vote via internet for the first time. “Nobody should be disenfranchised because disenfranchisement is never a business of this republic. It is practically the business of everyone,” Garcia stressed.
By leveraging modern technology and championing inclusivity, COMELEC continues to enhance electoral democracy in the Philippines, ensuring that every vote counts and every citizen’s voice is heard.
The Philippine government and civil society hosts the 2025 OGP Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting in Manila on February 5-7, 2024. It is being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. (AVS / PIA-NCR)
