Comelec on Deputization of Agencies

Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has tapped six departments under the Executive Department along with 19 other government agencies to serve as its deputies for the forthcoming October 25 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

The poll body in Resolution No. 9036 enumerated what these six departments and these are the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Finance (DoF), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Energy (DoE).

The task of each department is written below

For the education department, to enforce all orders and instructions relative to the election duties and functions of public school teachers as well as the use of all public school buildings designated as polling places/ centers.

The finance department, to ensure that all local government treasurers are available two weeks before and two weeks after Election Day so as to take custody and storage of election forms, ballot boxes, paraphernalia, supplies and materials.

The DOTC, to monitor the use, rental or hiring of transportation facilities by any candidate, political party, coalition of political parties, or groups or organizations in connection with the election campaign, including the amount paid for such use, rental or hiring while the energy department is tasked to provide uninterrupted power supply on the day before and on Election Day, until the termination conclusion of the canvassing of the election returns and proclamation of the elected officials.

The DBM, to make sure that no unlawful public funds would be released or disbursed while the DPWH, along with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), will be the ones to assist the Commission in removing and tearing down all unlawful election materials.

Also deputized by the Comelec for the October polls are the Philippine Postal Service Corporation, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on Audit.

Ordered to place all their land, air and water craft and communication facilities at Comelec’s disposal, said the resolution, are the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the National Food Authority (NFA), the National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Printing Office (NPO), and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The Omnibus Election Code allows the Comelec to secure services of government agencies to perform specific duties relative to the conduct of the elections.

Leslie Ann Aquino, Manila Bulletin