Republic of the Philippines
COMMISSION ON ELECTIOIT
Manila
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS GARCIA, Gcorge Enrh M., Chairroal.
r.OR THE PILOT TESTING OF INTING, Socorro 8., Commissioraet
CASQUE TO, Marloa S., Commissioaer
EARLY \IOTING HOURS FOR FEROLINO, Ainee P., Commissioner
PERSONS uIITH DISiABILITIES BITLAY, Rey 8., Comaissiouer
(PVIDS), SENIOR CITIZENS MACEDA, Ertresto Ferdhard P. Jr., Cornrnisslorrer
(Scs) AND HEAVILY CELIS, Nelso[ J., Commissioaer
PREGNAIVT 1IOTERS IN NAGA
CITY, CAMARINES SUR
PROVTNCE AND MUNTINLUPA
CITY, NATIONAL CAPITAL Promulgated; Septeuber ,
R"EGION (NCR), rN
CON}ITCTION WITH THI
ocToBER 30, 2(J23
BARANGAY AND W
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
ELECTTONS 12023 BSrrE)
x----------------- -----------x
RESOLUTION No.
10947
WHEREAS, Sections 1O and 11 of Article II (Declaration of
Principles and State Policies) of the 1987 Constitution of the
Republic of the Philippines state tbat, "The State shall prouide social
justice in all phases of national deueloprraent and that the State ualues
the dignitg of euery human person and guarantees fitll respect for
human rig ht s ", respectively ;
WIIE.RE.AS, the 2nd paragraph of Section 2, Article V (Suffrage)
of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines states
that, "The Congress shall also design a procedure for tLrc di.sabled and
the illiterates to uote utithottt the assista.nce of other persons. Until then,
th.eg shall be alloued to uote under exi.sting lauts and such rules as the
Commission on Elections mag promulgate to protect the secrecg of the
ballot";
IIIIEREAS, Article 29 (Participation in Political and Public
Life) of the United Nations Conventions on ttre Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UNCRPD) states that, ",Sfales ParTies shtzll guarutntee to
persorts toitlt disabilities political ights and the opportunitg to enjog
them on an equal basis toith others, and shall undertake to, among
others, ertsure that persons utith disabilities can effectiuelg and fitllg
parTicipate in political and public life on an equal basis tt;ith otLters,
directlg or through freelg chosen representatiues, including tlrc ight
and opportunitg for persons u-tith disabilities to uote and be electeS;
1l
WHERf,AS, Section 36 (Programs and Projects Related to Senior
Citizens and Persons with Disabilities) of Republic Act (R.A.) 11936r states
that "AIl agencies of the gouernment shall formulate plans, programs and
projects intended to address tLrc concern s of senior citizer* and persons
raith dis abilities, irtsofar as it relates to their mandqted functions, and
integrate the same in their regular actiuities".
WHERD,AS, Section 1 (Declaration of Policy) of R.A. No. 103662 states
that "Tlrc State sh.all erLsure tlat persons uith di.sabikties and senior citi.zens
are able to exerci.se their ight to politiul participation uithout discrimination or
restidions. Totpards thi.s end, the State slwll design system.s and procedures
tlwt uill enable person-s with disabilities and senior citi.zens to regi-ster and uote
bg themselues";
WHERDAS, Heavily Pregnant voters, who are six (6) months on the
family way, are likewise members of the vulnerabie sector and are in need of
convenience and accessibility to voting;
WHERDAS, it is provided in Strategic Pillar 1 (convenient, credible and
well-managed election day services) of the Strategic Goals of the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC) the following: a) To ensure convenience and complete
information for all voters on election day; and b) To ensure that voting centers/
polling places and voting are convenient and accessible to members of the
vulnerable sectors; and
on May 5, 2023, the Commission En Banc in Minute
WHERE.AS,
Resoiution No. 23-0342 approved the Operational Plan for Early Voting
Hours in Naga City, Camarines Sur Province and Muntinlupa City, National
Capita-l Region for the October 30,2023 BSKE and hereinafter referred to as
the "Early Voting Hours Project'.
NOI/,, THE,REFI)RE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the 1987
Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code (BP B1g. 881), and other related
eiection laws, the COMELEC RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES to
promulgate the following GEIIERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PILOT
TESTING OF EARLY 1IOTING HOURS E'OR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES (PWDs), SEITIOR CITIZENS (SCs) AND HEA17ILY
PREGNANT \/()TERS IN NAGA CITY, CAMARINES SUR
PRO\/INCE AND IIIUNTINLUPA CITY, NATIONAL CAPTTAL
RtGroN (NCR), r!5 CONNECTTON WrTH THE OCTOBER 3(), 2023
BARANGAY AND SANGGUNTANG KABATAAN ELECTTOIrS 12023
BSKEI-
PART I
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONq
SECTION 1. General Principles - In accordance with R.A. No. 7277s,
as arrrended, and R.A. No. 10366, the COMELEC shall be guided by
tl.e following principles in irnplementirrg ttris Resolution:
I General Appropriations Act of 2023,
r An Act Autho.izing the Commission on Elections to Establish Precincts Assigned to Accessible Potling Places
Exclusively for Persons with Disabilities and senior Citiz,ens.
i An Act Providing ForThe Rehabilitation, Self-Development and Self-Reliance of Disablei Person And Their
Integration Into The Mainstream Of Society And For Other Purposes,
2l
a. The COMELEC shall ensure that the voting procedures in
polling places participating in the Early Voting Hours
Project, including the facilities and rnaterials therein are
appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use,
and ttrat reasonable accornrnodation shall be granted to ttre
persons with disability (PWD), senior citizens (SC) and
Heavily Pregnant voters in order that they rnay fully exercise
their right of suffrage;
b. The right to ballot secrecy of PWDs, SCs, and Heavily
Pregnant as provided by law, shall be respected at all tirnes;
and
c. The right of a PWD, SC and Heavily Pregnant voter to be
assisted by a person of their own choice shall be enforced
and protected.
SECTION 2. Scope of Voters. - This Resolution shall apply to the
follow'ing in Naga Cit5r, Camarines Sur Province (Naga City) and
Muntinlupa City, NCR (Muntinlupa Cit5r):
a Registered voters who are PWDs and SCs of regular polling
places and Accessible Polling Places (APPs), including voters
who are Heavily Pregnanta; and,
b. One (1) assistor accornpanying the PWD and SC or one (1)
companion of the Heavily Pregnant voter availing of the Early
Voting Hours, if any, and who must be a voter of the sarne
voting cerrter.
If the assistor/ companion does not belong to the sarne
clustered precinct as the PWD, SC or Heawily Pregnant voter,
the EB Chairman shall issue a note for the EB of ttre
clustered precinct rwhere the assistor/ companion w'ill be
voting stating therein the name of the SC, PWD or Heavily
Pregnant, the clustered precinct nrlrnber wtrere he / she
voted, and ttre narne of the authorDed assistor/ companion
who w-ill be voting in the other clustered precinct. The EB of
the clustered precinct shall accomrnodate ttre
aforementioned assistor/companion and shall take note of
this in their Minutes.
PART II
THE ELECTORAL BOARD (EBf
F'OR THE EARLY VOTING HOURS PROJECT
SECTION 3. EB for Early Voting Hours. - The appointed EB for every
clustered precinct in the polling piaces (regular and APP) in Naga City and
a Heavily Pregnant voters refers to those who are six (6) month on the family way. (COMELEC Reso. No.
10761, General Instructions on Voting of Persons with Disabilities. Senior Citizens and Heavily Pregnant Voters
in the Emergency Accessible Polling Places for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections, February 9,
2022\
3l
Muntinlupa City shall be ttre sarne EB for the trarly Voting Hours Project on
election day.
SECTION 4. Department of Education Supervlsor Olllcial (DESOI and
DESO Support Stalf -The DESO
(SS). and DESO SS appointed in tl.e voting
centers in Naga City and Muntinlupa City shall perform their duties as such
during the Early Voting Hours.
SECTION 5. Honorarlum. - The EB, the DESO and SS shall be entitled to
an additional honorariurn of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,0O0.00) each for the
conduct of Early Voting Hours in Naga City and Muntinlupa City.
PART III
EARLY VOTING HOURS PROCEDURE
SECTION 6. Place of Voting. - The PWD, SC and Heavily Pregnant voter,
including their assistor and companion, if any, shall cast their votes in their
designated poiiing places in the same voting center.
SECTION 7. Eatly Voting Hours. - The Early Voting Hours shall be
from 5:OO AM to 7:OO AM on election day and shall be exclusive only for PWD,
SC and Heavily Pregnant voters of Naga City and Muntinlupa City, including
their assistor/companion, if any, as stated in Section 2 hereof.
After the Early Voting Hours, PWD, SC and Heavily Pregnant voters shall
continue to enjoy priority lane at the polling places from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
on election day. PWDs and SCs may also avail of the Emergency Accessible
Polling Places (EAPPs)s, if established in their voting centers, from 7:00 AM to
1:00 PM.
SECTION 8. First Come, First Serve Basis. - Voting during the Early Voting
Hours shall be based on a first come and first serve basis. A11 PWD, SC and
Heavily Pregnant voters availing thereof shal1 be treated equally and shall vote
in the order of their arrival.
SECTION 9. Assistor. - PWD and SC voters who cannot by
thernselves accomplish the ballot rnay vote w'ith the assistance of
the follow-ing:
a A relative urithin the fourth 14tt') civil degree of consanguinity
or affinit5r; or
b. By €rny person of the voter's confidence rwho belongs to the
sarne household (e.g., personal assistant, caregiver or a
nurse).
For the Heavily Pregnant voter, the companion must be any of the above-
specified persons.
No person, except the members of the Electoral Board, may assist a PWD or
SC voter more than three (3) times.
s Section 460, CoMELEC Resolution 10924
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In all cases, the Poll Clerk shall {irst verify from the PWD or SC voter whether
such voter has authorized the assistor to assist in accomplishing the voter's
ba-llot.
The assistor shall accomplish the ballot using a Ba-llot Secrecy Folder, and in
the presence of the PWD or SC voter being assisted.
The assistor shall be bound in writing and under oath to accomplish the ballot
strictly in accordance with the instruction of the voter and not to reveal the
contents of the ballot by affixing his/her signature on the appropriate space
in the Minutes.
No voter shall be allowed to vote as a PWD unless it is so indicated
in the EDCVL, the disabilit5r is apparent or has presented proof of
disability (i.e., PWD ID Card, Doctor's Certification, and the like).
SDCTION 1O. Voters' Assistance Desk (VADI6. - The VAD shall assist PWD,
SC and Heavily Pregnant voters during the Early Voting Hours in ascertaining
their precinct number, sequence number and direction to their polling places.
SECTIOIT 11. Preliminaries to the voting. - The EB shall meet at the polling
place at four (4:O0) o'clock in the morning of election day and perform aJ1 the
applicable preliminary activities specified in Section 425 of Resolution 109247'.
SECTION 12. Rules on Voting. - The EB shall observe the rules on voting
and procedures as provided under Sections 4268, 427e, 428to, 42911, 43012,
6 Section 424, lbid.
7 xxx
1. See to it that they have all the election forms, documents ard supplies needed;
2. Post one (1) copy each of the Posted Computerized Voters List (PCVL) for Barangay
voters and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters outside the polling place;
3. Display the poster indicating the precinct number and location of the polling place (CE
Form No. 3) near or at the door of the polling place;
4. Set-up or arrange the polling place in accordance with the recommended Lay-out of
Polling Place provided in Annex UEE' hereof;
5. Staple or paste the Certified Lists of Candidates for the Barangay and SK positions in
the ba-llot secrecy folders or desks/chairs/tables; aJId
6. Place the ballot secrecy folders on top ofthe desks/cha.irs/tables.
B. Before the start of voting, the EB Chairperson shall:
1. Open the batlot box, empty both compa.rtments, and show to the public that they a-re
empty. Then the EB Chairperson shall lock its interior cover with one (1) padlock. The
Poll Clerk shall retain the key to the padlock during the voting; and
2. Show to the public and to the watchers' present, the package of o{Iicial ballots (CEF
No.6). Enter in the Minutes the number of pads a-rld the seria-l numbers (SNs) of the
ballots in each pad, and the fact that the package of ba.llots was shown to the public.
8 Rules to be observed during the voting.
'r Prohibition on voting.
ro Persons allowed inside the polling place.
I I Holding Area.
12 Persons not allowed in a,nd around the polling place.
sl
43113, 433t4, 4341s, 43516,438,t7 439t8, 44ote,44l2o arld 44221 of COMELEC
Resoiution No. 10924, insofar as applicable to this Resolution.
PART tV
R.ESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
SECTION 13. Responsibillties and Accountabilities of Field Officials. -
A. Responsibilities:
1 . The Election Officer (EO) shall be primaril5z responsible in the
implementation of this Resolution and shall undertake to send
notices to ail affected registered SCs and PWDs of the availability
of Early Voting Hours as an option for voting on Election Day; and
2 The concerned Provincial Election Supervisor (PES), Regional
Election Directors (REDs) and Assistant Regional Election
Directors (AREDs) shall be responsible in monitoring the
compliance of their concerned EO with this Resolution.
B. Accountabilities:
Failure of any of the abovementioned {ield officials to cornply
w-ith the provisions of this Resolution strall be charged
administratively for dereliction of duty, malfeasance,
misfeasance, arrd/ or nonfeasance in office and, if found guilty,
the corresponding penalty shall be imposed, after due notice
and hearing.
PART V
INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
SECTION 14. Electlon Oflicers. - A rigorous information campaign on the
Early Voting Hours Project shall be conducted by the Election Officers ofNaga
City and Muntinlupa City to inform and encourage PWD, SC and Heavily
Pregnant voters to vote during the Early Voting Hours on election day with
emphasis on the benefits of convenience and accessibility with iess waiting
tirne for thern, in addition to their e:<isting Express Lane priwilege in the polling
places and the use of established EAPPs in their voting centers, if any, for the
2023 BSKE during regular voting hours.
The EOs shall likewise disseminate infomaterials developed by the Education
and Information Department (EID) and the VSO in their officiai social media
13 Authentication of the ba.llot.
14 Manner of obtaining the ballots.
rs Manner of voting.
16 Accomplishment of ballots for illiterate, PWD or Senior Citizens (SC).
17 Spoiled baliots.
18 Procedures aJter voting.
re Challenge against illega.l voters.
,o Challenge based on certain illegal acts.
2r Record of challenges, oaths and resolutions.
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The EOs shall iikewise disseminate infomaterials developed by the Education
and Information Department (EID) and the VSO in their of{icial social media
platforms.
In line with this, the EOs in coordination with local government officials, mass
media, NGOs and other groups in their cities shall conduct barangay
assemblies or upulong-puiongs' to inform the PWD, SC and Heavily Pregnant
voters of the Early Voting Hours Project.
Thereafter, the EO shall submit to the VSO a report on the number of
assemblies held for this purpose in their respective cities within ten (10) days
from election day.
SECTION 15. COMELEC Main Office. - The EID and VSO sha-ll likervise
conduct the necessa4l information campaign oniine, virtual, televised or
radio-aired for the most comprehensive information campaign on the Early
Voting Hours Project in support of the EOs of Naga City and Muntinlupa City.
The EID and VSO shall develop and share to the EOs the infomaterials relative
to this campaign for their widest dissemination in their cities.
PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 16. Funding Requirement. - The costs for the
irnplementation of the Early Voting Hours Project shall be borne by
the Commission subject to auditing rules and regllations.
STCTION 17. Supplementary Clause. - Other Resolutions of the
Cornrnission shall in so far as they are applicable and not otherwise
inconsistent w'ith this Resolution shall rernain in force and shall
be suppletory to this Resolution.
SECTION 18. Separabllity Clause. - If any section or portion of this
Resolution is declared illegal or inwalid, the rerna.ining provisions
shall remain valid and effective.
SECTION 19. Implernentatlon. - The Ofiice of the Deputy Executrve
Director for Operations (ODEDO) and the VSO, assisted by ttre OPES
of Camarines Sur and the OREDs for Region V and NCR shall
irnplernent this Resolution to errsure the holding of an effrcient and
eflective Early Voting Hours Project for tl-e 2023 BSKE. The VSO shall
superu-ise the conduct of this project under t}.e guidance of the
Commissioner-in-Charge for VSO and Early Voting Hours Project,
Commissioner Airnee P. Ferolino.
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10I4'/
SECTION 2O. Effectiwity. - This Resolution shall be published in
the oflicial COMELEC website and shall take effect immediately
after such publication.
SECTIOII 21. Dlsserolnation. - The VSO shall disseminate this
Resolution to the OREDs of Region V and NCR, OPES of Camarines Sur
and OEOs of Naga City and Muntinlupa City.
The EOs of the Naga City and Muntinlupa City shall give this
Resolution the widest dissemination.
SO ORDERED.
GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA
Chalrman
SOCORRO B. INTING MARLON S. CASQUF^,O
Commissioner Commissioner
AIMEE P. FEROLINO REY E. BULAY
Commissioner Commissioner
ERNESTO FERDINAND P. MACEDA, JR. NELSON J. CELIS
Commissioner Commissioner
CERTIFICATION
APPROVED for pubiication, September 6,2023.
co B. I LA
Director IV
This Resolution can be verified at this number (0218527 298 7; email address
comseqa.c omelec. qov. oh.
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