Voter’s Certification can now be secured starting June 15 – COMELEC
Registered voters can now secure a Voter’s Certification beginning June 15, 2020. This can be done in all Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) in areas of the country declared under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or Modified GCQ or with no community quarantine in place, or in the Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.
However, the issuance of certification remains suspended in the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay, in the province of Cebu, until further notice.
“The Commission En Banc has promulgated new protocols in the process of securing a Voter’s Certification which institutionalize the new normal,” Spokesperson James Jimenez said.
Pursuant to COMELEC Resolution No. 10672, the concerned OEOs have been directed to be “COVID-19 ready.” This includes the installation of glass windows or plastic sheet barriers and hand sanitation stations; daily disinfection of all office furniture and equipment; and posting of clear and visible signs about the wearing of face mask/shield, regular hand washing, physical distancing, and other preventive health measures.
The public is also reminded of the “No Face Mask/Shield, No Transaction Policy” that will be in place, as well as the observance of physical distancing at all times.
Strictly one requesting party at a time will be served, and all transactions will be done through plastic sheet barriers or glass windows. Physical distancing will be enforced in waiting areas, with chairs or floor markings spaced one meter apart for purposes of queueing.
In the case of Senior Citizens, Persons with Disability (PWDs) and others needing assistance, the assistors are required to observe the protocol of wearing face mask/shield and proper hygiene. Alternatively, an authorized person may request on their behalf, who must submit a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or an authorization letter and photocopies of a valid ID of both the requesting party and the authorized representative.
The certification is free of charge for Senior Citizens, PWDs, and members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs). It is also free for voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who will secure their certification in the OEO of the locality where they are registered.
The COMELEC on March 15 first suspended the issuance of Voter’s Certification nationwide following the declaration of a state of public health emergency in the country pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 922, and the issuances of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
On April 13, the suspension was extended until April 30. Then on April 30, the same was again extended until June 30 in light of the community quarantine. (COMELEC)
