The Most Morshiptul Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines PLARIDEL MASONIC TEMPLE 1440 San Marcelino Street, 1000 Ermita, Manila, Philippines Tel, Nos.: +63 2 524-3263 / +63 2 522-2233 / Fax: 463 2 522-2218 Website: www-grandiodge-ph MW Bro. AGAPITO S. SUAN, JR. ‘MW Bro. DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM Grand Master Grand Secretary EDICT NO. 340 MODIFIED PROCEDURES FOR ANCOM 2021 (OLONGAPO CITY) WHEREAS, ANCOM 2020 has been cancelled and moved to year 2021 in view of the legal restrictions on private and public mass gathering following the declaration of a state of corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country early last year; WHEREAS, the danger to health and safety due to the virus still prevails and requires the Grand Lodge to implement certain temporary procedural measures in order to hold the ANCOM this year by, among others, allowing the virtual participation of ANCOM delegates who are Senior Citizens, those with co-morbidity issues, those with travel constraints, and those with other restrictions, through remote viewing and remote voting; WHEREAS, in the past year, the Grand Lodge and Subordinate Lodges have employed and adopted on-line technology in conducting referendum voting, seminars and other masonic activities with satisfactory result and with wide acceptance among the brethren, proving that the said technology can be adequately utilized and specifically adjusted for ANCOM 2021 in accord with current laws of the land; WHEREAS, other Grand Lodge jurisdictions with amity relations with the GLP have likewise adopted the use of on-line technology in their own Masonic Communications due to restrictions on face-to-face meetings and the same is now an accepted method of conducting fraternal business in the international masonic community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, hence not violative of the spirit of our masonic laws, landmarks, customs and traditions; WHEREAS, there is no more impediment in the holding of ANCOM this year which can no longer be postponed in order to finally effect the election and appointments of the incoming leadership of the fraternity and to pass upon all the actions taken by the incumbent Grand Master in the past two Masonic years. NOW THEREFORE I, AGAPITO S. SUAN JR., Grand Master of Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby promulgate and decree, as follows: Charity & Runility: Fouedations of « True Masse.2| Page Edict No. 340 ~ MW Suan SECTION 1. One Day Plenary Session ~ The Grand Lodge shall open the 2021 Annual Communication physically following the traditional masonic manner in the designated convention site at SMX Center Olongapo City and shall thereafter proceed to discharge its plenary business, including the election of officers, in one day or on Thursday, April 22, 2021, guided by the abbreviated Order of Business hereto attached as Annex A (ABBREVIATED ORDER OF BUSINESS). All ceremonials, including the installation of elected and appointed officers shall be held the following day or on Friday, April 23, 2021, after which the Grand Lodge shall close the Annual Communication. Section 2. ANCOM Delegates - AnCom delegates shall include all Qualified Voters and Registered Delegates who are physically in attendance or virtually present during the convention. a. Qualified Voters shall be the only cligible voters for all elective offices of the Grand Lodge and can vote on issues to be decided in the ANCOM. They comprise of the voting representatives of accredited Subordinate Lodges (incumbent Worshipful Master, Wardens and the Immediate Past Master); the Past Grand Masters (PGMs); incumbent elective and appointive Grand Lodge Officers (GLOs) except Grand Lodge Inspectors; and the Immediate Past Masters in representation of all Past Masters of lodges. b. Registered Delegates shall refer to all attending and duly accredited Past Masters of subordinate lodges. Together with the Qualified Voters, they are eligible to vote on issues to be resolved by the ANCOM. c. Physical Attendance. Olongapo City is classified as Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) area and implements the 50% seating capacity rule. For this reason, only the first 450 AnCom delegates representing 50% of the seating capacity of the main convention area shall be allowed inside. ‘The excess shall be accommodated in an adjacent area within the SMX complex and shall be connected to the main convention site for remote viewing and remote voting. Preference to main convention site shall be given to Voting Delegates, including all incumbent and incoming Grand Line Officers. d. On Line Attendance. ANCOM Delegates who prefer to attend on-line shall use their previously registered email address for registration, viewing and voting purposes. Those not using registered email addresses shall be denied access. e. Advance Registration. All delegates shall register in advance thru on-line registration at least thirty (30) days before ANCOM, indicating in the registration form whether they are attending physically or by remote viewing. Delegates who have previously registered for the 2019 ANCOM shall register anew.3) Pa Edict No. 340 - MW Suan f. Compliance Requirements. Subordinate Lodges that have not complied with the mandatory ANCOM requirements, i.e. submission of required reports and payment of annual dues, shall be denied representation. Section 3. Plenary Voting In-Situ and On-Line - All ANCOM Delegates defined above may vote on site or by remote voting for the approval or disapproval of matters requiring ANCOM decision or ratification. Those physically present shall vote in the traditional manner while those present virtually shall vote using the ZOOM Polling System. Section 4, igital ANCOM Kits - All papers and documents, proceedings, Grand Lodge Officers’ Reports, Reports of Standing and Special Committees and other reports submitted to the ANCOM for action or ratification shall be available for downloading in the GLP Website. In addition, the usual ANCOM Kits shall be furnished to all duly registered ANCOM Delegates in digitized format, the full contents of which shall be made available to all registered voters at least thirty (30) days prior to the ANCOM. Section 5. Prior Objections - All ANCOM Delegates presenting proof of registration may submit their written comments or objections to any substantial matter requiring express action or approval of the ANCOM, such as Edicts, Circulars, and other items in the Grand Master’s Report, Reports of Standing Committees, Budget/Appropriation Report, etc. at least fifteen (15) days prior to ANCOM by letter or email addressed to the Grand Master at ogm@grandlodge.com or glp_ogm@yahoo.com The Grand Master shall respond to the same at least five (5) days after receipt. If the objector is not satisfied with the reply, his objection shall be included for direct plenary voting without further debate. Both the objection and the answer shall be posted on- line or prominently displayed during the plenary. No objection or debate on other issues shall be entertained on the floor. Section 6. Election for the Position of Junior Grand Warden - On election day (Thursday, April 22, 2021), the PGMs, thru their representative, shall announce the list of seven (7) candidates to be considered for election. Thereafter, the representative of the PGMs physically present in the ANCOM shall draw the final list of five (5) candidates to be voted upon. Only candidates who are present physically and duly registered in the ANCOM can be elected. Voting delegates present at the site shall vote in the traditional manner, while voting delegates registered on-line shall vote thru the on-line election system to be administered by the ELECOM. Section 7. Electoral Committee - Both physical and on-line voting on issues and election of officers shall be under the exclusive control and supervision of the ELECOM to be headed by a Past Grand Master. The ELECOM chairman is empowered to appoint four (4) other members from the jurisdiction. He is authorized to call on the IT Committee and other Grand Lodge Committees as may be needed to assist him in the performance of his duties.41 Pag Edict No. 340 - MW Suan Section 8. Mock Voting - As soon as all ANCOM delegates have registered their email address, the Grand Lodge shall schedule a mock election supervised by the ELECOM for the purpose of testing the system and identifying possible technical issues to be resolved prior to ANCOM Section 9. Swab Test and other COVID-19 Health Protocols. - The Grand Lodge shall strictly implement all government mandated minimum health standards and protocols in the conduct of a physical ANCOM, including requiring all attendees to undergo swab test or saliva test prior to entry. Provided, that Health Certificate attesting to a negative COVID-19 infection and dated five (5) days prior to ANCOM, or Vaccination Certificate, as the case may be, shall be sufficient. It shall be the responsibility of the ANCOM host to procure all needed government permits and other health safeguards for ANCOM 2021 and to ensure that all national laws, local government rules and regulations are complied with during the ANCOM. Section 10, Applicability Clause. - Except as otherwise affected by the ad hoc provisions of this Edict, all other provisions of Edict No. 268-F (MW Momo), all laws and regulations relating to Electioneering and all relevant Grand Lodge edicts and regulations in the conduct of ANCOM shall remain applicable ‘This Edict shall take effect immediately upon publication in the official Grand Lodge Website and shall be submitted to the ANCOM delegates as its first order of business during the plenary session. Given under my hand and seal of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines at the City of Manila, Philippines, this 10t day of February 2021 Attest: s Wb Me DANILO D. ANG} , PGM Grand Sedfetary ASS/DDA/OVY/vangieTHE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE PHILIPPINES ABBREVIATED ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE 104th ANNUAL COMMUNICATION APRIL 22 - 23, 2021 OLONGAPO CITY Thursday * APRIL 22, 2021 MORNING SESSION ene wn = Seng FS 12. 13. 14. 15, 16. Opening of the Grand Lodge by the Deputy Grand Master Reception of the Grand Master and turn-over of gavel to the GM Announcement of the attendance of dignitaries by the Grand Secretary Announcement of the attendance of Past Grand Masters on-site and on-line Reception of the Flag, Singing of the Anthem, Panunumpa, GLP Hymn Opening Prayer by Grand Chaplain Welcome Remarks by host district Reception and address of the Guest of Honor and Speaker Address of the Guest Speaker Grand Oration Declaration of quorum by the Grand Secretary based on lodges represented at convention and delegates of lodges registered on- line (no more roll-call of lodges) Approval of Edict on Modified Procedures for the current ANCOM Approval of the Proceedings for the 103 AnCOM at Cagayan de Oro City Approval of resolution that the current proceedings be adopted by the GLP as a corporate body Acknowledgement of Grand Representatives present Approval/Rejection/Notation of reports of GLP Officers, various attached organizations, standing and special committees for MY 2019-2020 and MY 2020-2021 AFTERNOON SESSION 1: 18. 19, Turm-over of gavel to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee Casting of Votes for the Position of Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary Announcement of Qualified Candidates for thé position of Junior Grand Warden as trimmed down by PGMs from 12 to 720. 21. 22) 23 24 Selection of five (5) final candidates (drawn by a representative of PGMs) Speech of Candidates (5 minutes each) Physical voting of delegates at convention site / simultaneous on- line voting Canvassing of Votes and Proclamation of Winners Recess of Grand Lodge EVENING Grand Master's Night 25 26. 27, Friday, April 23, 2021 Reopening of Grand Lodge Installation Ceremonies Closing of the Grand Lodge Separate Activity Conferral of Past Master’s Degree shall be handled by the Senior Grand Lecturer only for those physically present. The next conferral shall be on ANCOM 2022 or earlier as may be ordered.