Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTION Intramuros, Manila GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ON INTING, Socorro. B. ‘Acting Chairperson CASQUEJO, Marion S. Commissioner VOTING OF PERSONS WITH fA5gio eh oo ener, DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS guiav ky ®, owe AND HEAVILY PREGNANT VOTERS IN THE EMERGENCY ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES FOR THE MAY 9, 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS Promulgation: February 9,202; Resolution No. 10761 WHEREAS, Sections 10 and 11 of Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines state that, "The State shall provide social justice in all phases of national development and that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights’, respectively; WHEREAS, the 2nd paragraph of Section 2, Article V (Suffrage) of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines states that, "The Congress shalll also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shalll be allowed to vote under existing laws and such niles as the Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect the secrecy of the ballot’, WHEREAS, Article 29 (Participation in Political and Public Life) of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CPRD) states that, "States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake to, among others, ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected; WHEREAS, Section 33 (Programs and Projects Related to Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability) of Republic Act No. 11518! states that, "All agencies of the government shall formulate plans, programs and projects intended to address the concerns of senior citizens and persons with disability, insofar as it ® General Appropriation Act of 2021relates to their mandated functions, and integrate the same in their regular activities. Moreover, all government infrastructures and facilities shall provide architectural or structural features, designs or facilities that will reasonably enhance the mobility, safety and welfare of persons with disability pursuant to Batas Pambansa Bilang 344? and R.A. No. 72773, as amended’; WHEREAS, Section 1 (Declaration of Policy) of Republic Act No. 103661 states that "The State shall ensure that persons with disabilities and senior citizens are able to exercise their right to political participation without discrimination or restrictions. Towards this end, the State shall design systems and procedures that will enable persons with disabilities and senior citizens to register and vote by themselves’; WHEREAS, 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; WHEREAS, as a Constitutional Commission, the COMELEC is mandated to oversee the conduct of clean, peaceful, credible and safe elections. The structured programs of the Commission are (1) Election Administration; and (2) Electoral Enforcement and Adjudication. The primary activities related to Election Administration are the conduct of registration and elections; WHEREAS, on December 4, 2019, the COMELEC in Minute Resolution No. 19-11348, approved the creation of the Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO), which shall be subsumed under the structure of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations as most of its functions, projects, and/or activities would require direct coordination with other Departments and Offices of the Commission and incorporation in election operations of such projects and/or activities through the Offices of the Regional Election Director (OREDs); WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 9226, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines, and ordered a whole-of-government approach in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic?; and WHEREAS, the COMELEC supports the main objective of the Government, to stop the spread of COVID-19, and adheres to the principle that 2AN ACT 70 ENZANCE THE MOBILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS BY REQUIRING CERTAIN BUILDINOS, INSTITUTIONS, ESTABLISHMENTS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES TO INSTALL FACILITIES AND OTHBR DEVICES {AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION, SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND SELPRELIANCE OF DISABLED PERSON AND THEIR {INTBGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES “AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS 70 ESTABLISH PRECINCTS ASSIONED TO ACCESSIBLE POLLING ‘PLAGES EXCLUSIVELY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SEMOR CITIZENS {SIN THE MATTER OF THE PROPOSED CREATION OF A VULNERABLE ARCTORS OFFICE (30) ‘DECLARING A STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH! EMERGENCY THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES 7 PROCLAMATION NO. 922. MARCH 8.2020, Page | 2government services should not be denied to the general public, by institutionalizing preventive health measures, adopting the new normal to protect its personnel and the public clientele. NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to its authority under the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and other relevant election laws, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following 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: PARTI INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS SECTION 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES - In accordance With Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, and Republic Act No. 10366, the Commission shall be guided by the following principles in implementing these General Instructions: a. The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedures in the EAPP, including the facilities and materials therein are appropriate, accessible and casy to understand and use, and that reasonable accommodation shall be granted to persons with disabilities, senior citizens and heavily pregnant voters in order that they may fully exercise their right of suffrage; b. The right to ballot secrecy of persons with disabilities, senior citizens and heavily pregnant voters, as provided by law, shall be respected at all times; c. The right of persons with disabilities and senior citizens to be assisted by a person of their own choice shall be enforced and protected; d. The consent of persons with disabilities, senior citizens or heavily pregnant voters during the registration period prior to election day is not required for the purpose of availing the privilege of voting in the EAPP; and e. The role of non-partisan groups/organizations of persons with disabilities and senior citizens, other concerned government agencies, and civil society organizations in implementing these General Instructions is indispensable. SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS - As used in these General Instructions, the term: a. Accessibility — refers to a precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully and equally in society, Without access to the physical environment, to transportation, to information andcommunication, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, persons with disabilities would not have equal opportunities for participation in their respective societies.® b. Accessible Polling Place (APP) - refers to the venue where the Electoral Board (EB) conducts election-related proceedings and where the voters cast their votes. The APP shall be located at the ground floor, preferably near the entrance of the building, and is free of any physical barriers and provided with necessary services, including assistive devices (Section 2 (j) of Republic ‘Act No. 10366); c. Assistant Regional Election Director (ARED) - refers to the second highest official of the Commission in a region; d. Assistor - refers to a person assisting a person with disability or senior citizen availing of the EAPP, who in the EDCVL requires such assistance or manifestly needed such assistance on election day; ¢. Authorization Form - refers to the hereto attached document marked as ‘Annex “A”, to be accomplished by a person with disability, senior citizen or heavily pregnant voter availing of the EAPP. The filled-out form shall give consent to the EAPP Support Staff to: a) obtain the ballot from the designated polling place; b) bring such ballot to the EAPP where it will be accomplished; and c) return the same to the polling place where it was obtained for feeding to the Vote and Counting Machine (VCM); f, Clustered Precinct - refers to a grouping of established precincts based on a clustering scheme adopted by the Commission on Elections for a particular election; g. COMELEC - refers to the Commission on Elections (Commission for brevity); h, Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO) - refers to the principal of the school or other person appointed to assist the member of the Electoral Board (EB) in ensuring the orderly, peaceful and safe conduct of elections in a voting center; i, Disability — refers to the results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others; j. Election Officer/Acting Election Officer (EO/AEO) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a district, city or municipality; UNCRPD, GENERAL COMMENT NO. 2 (2014), Page | 4k. Electoral Board (EB) - refers to the collective term for the Chairperson and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), Board of Election Tellers (BET) and Special Board of Election Tellers (SBET) (Section 2 (c), Republic Act No. 10756); 1. Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP) - refers to a (class] room or makeshift/temporary polling place established in the first floor or at the ground of a voting center or outside of it but in close proximity thereto, where a person with disability, senior citizen and heavily pregnant voters falling under Section 2 (a) hereof may vote on election day; m. EAPP Support Staff (EAPP 88) - refers to the person appointed to supervise the voting in the EAPP; n. Heavily Pregnant - refers to those who are, at least, six (6) months on the family way; o. Non-Manifest Disability - refers to a type of disability which is not apparent from the physical appearance of a person; p. Person with Disability (PWD)- refers to a voter who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in the electoral processes on an equal basis with others (Section 2 (b), Republic Act No. 10366); q. Polling place - refers to the place where the members of the EB (Republic ‘Act No. 10756) conducts its proceeding and where the voters cast their votes (Section 3 (), Republic Act No. 8189); r. Precinct - refers to the basic unit of territory established by the Commission for the purpose of voting (Section 3 (), Republic Act No. 8189); s. Project of Precincts (POP) - refers to a public document prepared by the EO/AEO, which contains the total number of barangays, established precincts, clustered precincts, voters and voting centers of a district, city or municipality; t. Provincial Election Supervisor/Acting Provincial Election Supervisor (PES/APES) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a province; uu, Reasonable accommodation- refers to necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure that PWDs and SCs Page | 5enjoy the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others (Sec. 2 (g), Resolution No. 9763°); v. Regional Election Director (RED) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a region; w, Satellite-EAPP (S-EAPP) - refers to an EAPP temporarily established in a building used as a home or residence of PWDs and/or SCs, including rehabilitation centers and sheltered workshops where said PWDs and/or SCs are living or outside thereof but in close proximity thereto, whether administered by the government or a private institution; x. SEAPP Support Staff (S-EAPP SS) - refers to the person appointed to supervise the voting in the S-EAPP; y. Senior Citizen (SC) - refers to a qualified voter who is sixty (60) years or older (Section 2 (c), Republic Act No. 10366); and z. Voting Center - refers to the building or place where the polling place is located (Section 3 (m), Republic Act No. 8189). SECTION 3. SCOPE. - These General Instructions shall apply to the following: a. Voters - The following voters MAY avail of the EAPP/S-EAPP: 1. PWD and SC voters who did not avail of APP pursuant to Resolution No. 976310, For this purpose, PWD and SC voters, who manifested their intent to vote in APP shall NOT be allowed to vote in the EAPP/S- EAPP; 2. PWD voters who failed to update their registration records during the continuing registration of voters; 3. Voters who become disabled, temporarily or permanently, after the continuing registration of voters ended; and 4. Heavily pregnant voters, who are six (6) months on the family way. b. Voting Centers - This General Instructions shall apply to all districts, cities and municipalities pre-determined by the Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO) using: ° IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10366, ENTITLED “AN ACT AUTHORIZING ‘HIE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRECINCTS ASSIGNED TO ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS1. The floors of multi-storey voting centers as polling places; and 2. Single-storey voting centers situated in elevated or downward planes, in such a manner that voting therein poses harm and/or ‘unnecessary inconvenience to PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters. PART IL SECTION 4. TYPES OF EAPP AND THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS. - EAPPs are classified into the following: a. EAPP- refers to an EAPP which is established, as far as practicable, in one (1) of the [class] rooms at the first or ground floor of all covered voting centers, pursuant to Section 3 (b) above regardless of whether an APP has been established therein or not. Otherwise, a makeshift/temporary polling place shall be built inside or in close proximity to the voting center, which shall be strategically located near its entrance and health desk, if any; and b. S-EAPP - refers to an EAPP temporarily established in a building used as a home or residence of PWDs and/or SCs, including rehabilitation centers and sheltered workshops where said PWDs and/or SCs are living or outside thereof but in close proximity thereto, whether administered by the government or a private institution (Section 2 (w)). SECTION 5. NUMBER OF EAPPs TO BE ESTABLISHED. - In the establishment of EAPPs in a voting center, the following shall be observed: NO. OF BARANGAYS NO. OF EAPPS 1to7 1 8to14 2 | 15 and above 3 | —— SECTION 6. EAPP MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. - All EAPPs must have an ample space capable of accommodating AT LEAST TEN (10) PWD, SC and/or heavily pregnant voters, including wheelchair-users and assistors, at any given time.SECTION 7. ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. - Accessibility shall be put in place in the EAPP by implementing the minimum standards of Batas Pambansa Bilang 3441), which includes but are not limited to the following: a, Ramps; b. Large print signages and directional signs at the entrance of the voting center leading to the EAPP; c. Accessible washroom; and d. Filipino Sign Language Interpreter (FSLI), as far as practicable. If not, reasonable accommodation may be implemented by providing pens and papers, through which the deaf and hard of hearing voters may communicate. SECTION 8. EXERCISE OF CHOICE. - A PWD, SC or heavily pregnant voter may opt to vote in the EAPP or in the polling place where his/her precinct is assigned. To assist a voter in making a choice, the EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall explain, in clear and understandable terms, the procedures that will be followed in the BAPP/S-EAPP. SECTION 9. 8-EAPP FOR THE MAY 2022 NLE - S-EAPP for the May 9, 2022 NLE are the following: 1. Hospicio de San Jose, Manila, 5th District; 2, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc., Cainta, Rizal; and 3. National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC), Quezon City, 3rd District. Establishment of S-BAPP for future electoral exercises shall comply with the provision of Sections 15312, 15419 and 155!4 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 88115, as implemented by the Commission through an appropriate resolution. 1 AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE MOBILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS BY REQUIRING CERTAIN BUILDINGS, INSTITUTIONS, ‘BSTABLISHMENTS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES TO INSTALL FACILITIES AND OTHER DEVICES 2 gection 183. Designation of poling places -The lection of paling places designated nthe preceding rear elerton shal eontinue with uch changes asthe Commissian may find necexsiry, after note to registered polical parties and car diates tx the pola unit afeted, ‘Feony, end hearing Provided, That no leaton shall be changed within forty five days before raglar election and tay days before pec etoctin a refer or plebstite,exorpin cane tis destroyed or ena be sed. "section 154. Requirements for poling places. - Each pling place shall be, as for as practicable, aground flor and shal be of sufiiont size to adit and comfortably aecimmadate forty soters atone time outside the guard rail for the board of election inspectors. The paling ‘lage shall be lasted than the territory ofthe precnet as centrally as possible with respect the restence ofthe waters thorn. aid ihenaver pocatbi, such heaton shal Be alan ube road. No dextguaion of polling pacts hal be changed except pon wniten pein, items of th tr he pret or acme of ale pid parte or rc fh oon fon ro a A public building having the requirements prescribed inthe preceding paragraph shal be prefered as pling place. © section 188, Building that shal not be used as poling places. No poling place shall be cated ina publi or priate bulding ouned, teased, or ecxpied by any candidate or of any person wha relate to any candidate wath the fourth cil degree of consanguinity oF tapity, or ey fier ofthe goverment o lender ofan police! par, group or faction, nor in any bulking ar sureunding premises uncer (he actual conta ofa priate entiy politcal party or regs Otgantaton. in pioces where no stale pubic bling is ercable, private ‘choo! uldings many be uso 2s peing place. No pling pace shal be located win the peroneer of ineudea itary or patie ap or ‘eseraton outa a prison compound Tr OlIBUS REECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINESApproval of such requests shall fall within the authority of the Executive Director pursuant to Resolution No. 840316 dated January 16, 2008 unless otherwise ordered by the Commission En Bane. SECTION 10. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. - Voting in EAPP and S- EAPP shall be based on a first come and first serve basis. All voters availing thereof shall be treated equally and shall vote in the order of their arrival. SECTION 11. VOTING HOURS. - On election day, voting in EAPP shall be from 6:00 A.M. to 5:00 PM, while voting in S-EAPPs shall be from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 PM. ‘The last hour of voting shall not apply when there are PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters present within thirty (30) meters from the S-EAPP, who have not yet cast their votes, in which case the voting shall continue but only to allow said voters to cast their votes without interruption. One of the S-EAPP SS shall, without delay, prepare a complete list containing the names of said voters consecutively numbered, and the voters so listed shall be called to vote by announcing each name audibly repeatedly three (3) times in the order in which they are listed or by showing the names to Deaf or Hard of Hearing voters or through any other applicable methods. Any voter in the list who is not present when his/her name is called out shall not be permitted to vote. The foregoing notwithstanding, the S-EAPP SS shall make sure that voting in the S-EAPP shall be finished at least two (2) hours before 7:00 P.M. to give enough time for the filled out ballots to be fed to the VCMs in the regular polling places. SECTION 12. EARLY DISTRIBUTION OF AUTHORIZATION FORMS. - To avoid delay and long waiting time in S-EAPP, Authorization Forms may be distributed a day before the elections to PWD and SC voters assigned or expected to vote therein. SECTION 13. WAITING AREA. - A waiting area capable of accommodating AT LEAST TEN (10) PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters, including wheelchair- users and their assistors, simultaneously, shall be established where voters who are waiting for their turn to vote in the EAPP and S-EAPP can stay. ‘The waiting area shall be put up near or in close proximity to the EAPP and S- EAPP, Persons assisting PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters may occupy the waiting area, provided that priority shall be given to the assisted voters. SECTION 14, ASSISTOR.- A PWD or SC voter may be assisted in the accomplishment of ballot by a third party, if such fact is indicated in the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List (EDCVLs). TEIN THE MATTER OF AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ACT ON CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS PERTAINING 170 THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS/OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION AT THE CENTRAL AND FIELD OFFICES Page | 9However, in cases where the PWD or SC voter cannot manifestly accomplish the ballot, he/she may be assisted by the following, in the order provided: a. A relative by consanguinity or affinity within the 4th civil degree; b. By any person of their confidence who belongs to the same household (¢.8., personal caregiver and nurse}; or c. By EAPP/S-EAPP SS. The EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall be allowed to assist more than three (3) voters availing of the EAPP and S-EAPP. All assistors must be of voting age. ‘The fact that a PWD, SC or heavily pregnant voter availing of the EAPP had been assisted in the preparation of the ballot and the name of the assistor shall be indicated in the Authorization Form, SECTION 15. OTHER ASSISTANCE, - In voting centers where there are PWD voters, who are registered with visual, hearing or speech impairment, the Commission shall endeavor to provide FSLIs or lists of candidates in audio-visual presentation and/or transcribed in Braille, and in large print. If there are no available FSLIs, a reasonable accommodation such as a pen and paper shall be provided as a means to communicate with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing voters. The Commission shall accord due consideration on the number of voters registered as PWD with the aforesaid impairments. ‘The final list of voting centers where FSLIs and lists of candidates in audio-visual presentation and/or transcribed in Braille shall be finalized and submitted by the Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO), together with its corresponding budgetary requirement to the En Banc for approval. SECTION 16. NUMBER OF EAPP SS TO BE APPOINTED. - In the appointment of EAPP SS the following rules shall be observed: NO. OF SETS OF EAPP SS NO. OF CLUSTERED NCR AND ANTIPOLO | OTHER NON-NCR PRECINCTS IN A VOTING | CITY, RIZAL-1SET | AREAS -1SETIS CENTER 1S COMPOSED OF 4 | COMPOSED OF 3 SS 8s 1 to 10 1 (488) 1(3 SS) Page | 1011 to 20 2 (8 8) 2 (68S) | 21 to 30 3 (12 88) 3 SS) 31 to 40 4 (16 $8) 4 (12 SS) 41 to 50 5 (20 SS) 5 (15 SS) 51 and above 6 (24 SS) 6 (18 SS) SECTION 17. S-EAPP SUPPORT STAFF (S-EAPP 88). - The Commission, through the EO/AEO, shall appoint the following sets of SS for S-EAPPs enumerated in Section 9 hereof: 1. 3.S-EAPP SS for the 167 PWD and SC voters assigned in Hospicio de San Jose, Manila, 5th District; 2. 2 S-EAPP SS for the 81 PWD and SC voters assigned in Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc., Cainta, Rizal; and 3, 4_S-EAPP SS for the 420 PWD and SC voters assigned in National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC), Quezon City, 3rd District. SECTION 18. QUALIFICATIONS OF EAPP/S-EAPP SS. - The EAPP and S- EAPP SS mentioned in the preceding Sections shall have the same qualifications of an SS under Resolution No, 10727. In addition, the SS must have undergone a Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Training. SECTION 19, PREFERENCE IN THE APPOINTMENT OF EAPP/S-EAPP SS. - In the appointment of EAPP/S-EAPP SS, preference shall be given to Special Education (SPED) teachers or those who are knowledgeable in sign language to address communication barrier. In all cases, writing materials shall be provided in the EAP and S-EAPP to ensure availability of means of communication through writing. SECTION 20. REMUNERATION AND OTHER BENEFITS. ~ Except for travel allowance during Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) and communication allowance, the EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall be entitled to the same remuneration and other benefits of support staff under Resolution No. 10727. Page | 22SECTION 21. DISABILITY AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY TRAINING. - The Commission shall ensure that the EAPP and S-EAPP SS shall undergo a Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Training and be provided with manuals/audio video presentations relative thereto. Such manuals shall likewise be made available in the EAPP and S-EAPP on election day. SECTION 22.EAPP ELECTION DAY COMPUTERIZED VOTER'S LIST (EDCVL). - To facilitate the identification of PWD voters falling under Part I, Section 3 (a) (1) hereof and SC voters, who may possibly avail of the EAPP; the precinct/polling place where they belong and where the ballot shall be obtained and returned, the EAPP shall be provided with a separate EDCVL of all registered PWD and SC voters assigned in the voting center where it will be established, including those assigned in the APPs. Up to one hundred (100) blank spaces shall be provided in the EDCVL to accommodate voters falling in Part I, Section 3 (a)(2)(3) and (4) hereof. ‘The Information Technology Department (ITD) shall provide such EDCVL to the EAPP. SECTION. 23. S-EAPPs EDVCL. - The S-EAPPs shall be provided with a separate EDCVL of all voters assigned thereat. For the purpose the concerned EOs/AEOs shall provide the list of voters assigned in S-EAPPs to the VSO for submission to the ITD. SECTION 24. PERSONS ALLOWED INSIDE THE EAPP AND S-EAPP. - The following shall be allowed inside the EAPP and S-EAPP: a. EAPP/S-EAPP SS; b. Watchers who shall stay only in the space reserved for them; c. Representatives of the Commission; d. PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters casting their votes; e PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters waiting for their turn to cast their votes; and f. Other persons who may be specifically authorized by the Commission. Page | 12SECTION 25. COVID-19 PREVENTIVE MEASURES. - The provisions of Minute Resolution No. 21-074917 dated August 25, 2021 and Article XIII of Resolution No, 10727 shall be observed in the waiting area provided in Section 13 hereof and during the voting in the EAPP and S-EAPP, as far as they are applicable. PART II VOTING AND CLOSING PROCEDURES SECTION 26. VOTING PROCEDURES IN THE EAPP. - The following voting procedures shall be observed in the EAPP: A. The EAPP SS shall: 1, Explain to the voter/s the procedures and effect of voting in the APP; and 2. Ensure that the provision of Section 25 hereof shall be strictly followed in the EAPP. B. The EAPP SS tasked to obtain the ballot/s from the polling place/s shall: 1. Upon arrival of the PWD, SC or heavily pregnant voter, inspect his/her fingernail for any ink stain. If there be none, explain the option available to him/her in accordance with Section 7, Part Il hereof; 2. Ifthe voter chooses to vote in the EAPP, look for his/her name, photo and precinct number in the EDCVL, if applicable. Incase of doubt in the identity of the voter, the EAPP SS shall require the presentation of an ID card or any document for identification purposes. If no ID card or any other document is presented, the voter may be identified under oath by an EAPP SS or a registered voter belonging to the same precinct as the voter availing of the EAPP. Such identification shall be recorded in the log book of the EAPP. For a voter with non-manifest disability who are not included in the EDCVL, the EAPP SS shall require the presentation of a National PWD ID card or any other document as proof of such disability. 17 INTHE MATTER OF THE DRAFT COMELBC NEW NORMAL MANUAL Poge | 23Any registered voter belonging to the same precinct as the voter identified shall be allowed to identify only up to three (3) voters availing of the EAPP; 3. After establishing the voter's identity, instruct him/her to fill-out the Authorization Form. 4, Proceed to the polling place where the voter's precinct is assigned to obtain the ‘ballot. ‘The EAPP SS may opt to wait until a minimum of ten (10) voters have availed themselves of the EAPP before obtaining the ballots. Provided, however; that mo voter shall be made to wait for an unreasonably long time. Provided further, that the EAPP shall not be left without any EAPP SS managing it at any given time; and 5. Upon reaching the polling place, turn over the Authorization Form and the ID card or any other document presented for identification purposes, if any, to the EB Chairperson assigned in the polling place. C. The EB Chairperson shall: Page | 1. Upon receipt of the Authorization Form and the ID card or any other document presented for identification purposes, if any, check the name, signature and photo of the voter in the EDCVL; The EB Chairperson shall prioritize all ballot requests of the EAPP SS over regular voters in the polling place except in cases where the request comes from a PWD, SC or heavily pregnant voter, who opt to vote in the latter; 2. After the voter’s' identity has been validated, note in the Minutes of Voting (Minutes) his/her name, the ID card or any other document presented for identification purposes, if any, precinct number and the serial number of the ballot given to the EAPP SS. The Authorization Form shall be attached to the Minutes; 3. Insert the ballot in the envelope provided by the EAPP SS and write at the back of the envelope the precinct number of the voter for whom the ballot is obtained, the time the ballot was obtained from the polling place and the number of the ballots obtained. The same envelope may be used for subsequent procurement of ballots provided the same procedures shall be followed; and 144. If the ballot cannot be issued for whatever reason, the EB Chairperson shall authorize the Third Member or Poll Clerk to go to the EAPP and explain to the voter the reason for non-issuance of the ballot. This fact shall be recorded in the Minutes of the polling place and log book of the EAPP. D. The EAPP SS who remained in the EAPP shall: 1. Upon receipt of the envelope from the EAPP SS who obtained the ballots: a.) inspect the envelope before extracting the ballots therefrom; b.) inspect the ballots to ensure that they have not been filled-out, marked, mutilated or otherwise rendered unusable; and c.) enter in the log book the conditions of the envelope and ballots; 2. If the ballots have already been filled-out, have marks, have been mutilated or otherwise rendered unusable, direct the EAPP SS who obtained the ballots to return them to the polling places where they were obtained, otherwise the ballots shall be given to the voters, who may accomplish the same with or without assistors. ‘The returned ballots shall be considered spoiled ballots and such fact shall be indicated in the Minutes of the polling place. Thereafter the EB Chairperson shall issue new ballots in place of the latter in accordance with letter C hereof. The circumstances attendant to the issuance of new ballots shall also be recorded in the log book of the EAPP; 3. After accomplishing the ballots, insert them in the envelope. One EAPP SS shall be assigned to ensure the security and sanctity of the accomplished ballots; 4. Instruct the voter to sign the EDCVL and impress his/her thumbprint therein. Apply indelible ink to the voter's right forefinger nail or any other nail if there be no forefinger nail or in any other suitable part of the voter's body, if there are no fingernails; and 5, Request the voter to leave the EAPP. SECTION 27. VOTING PROCEDURES IN THE S-EAPP.- The following procedures shall be observed in the S-EAPP: A. The 8-EAPP $8 shall: 1. Explain to the voters the procedures and effect of voting in the S- EAPP; Page | 252. Ensure that the provision of Section 25 hereof shall be strictly followed in the S-EAPP; 3. Require the voters to fill-out Authorization Forms unless the voters already did pursuant to Section 12 hereof; 4. Go to the affected polling place/s to obtain the ballot/s; 5. Submit the Authorization Forms to the EB Chairperson of the polling place/s where the ballots are obtained and the envelope/s where the ballots will be placed; and 6. Return to the S-EAPP. B. The EB Chairperson shall observe the same procedures in Section 26 (C) hereof, C. The S-EAPP SS who remained in the S-EAPP shall observe the same procedures in Section 26 (D) hereof. SECTION 28. PROCEDURES BEFORE CLOSING OF EAPP AND S-EAPP. - Before closing, the EAPP and S-EAPP SS shall accomplish the Template for Voters' Turn-Out (Annex B). Copies of Annex B and the log book shall be turned-over to the concerned EO/AEO, who shall in turn submit them to the Commission, through the VSO. ‘The turn-over of Annex B and log book to the EO/AEO shall be a pre-requisite for the payment of the remuneration due them as stated in Section 20 hereof. SECTION 29. PROCEDURES AFTER CLOSING OF EAPP/S-EAPP. - The exact time of the closing of the EAPP/S-EAPP and the turn-over of the ballots to the EB Chairpersons shall be entered in the log book, and thereafter the EAPP/S- EAPP SS shall affix their signatures thereto. Once the EAPP/S-EAPP are closed, the EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall seal the envelopes containing the accomplished ballots. Thereafter, the EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall deliver the securely sealed envelopes to the EB Chairpersons who issued said ballots. The EB Chairperson shall then inspect the conditions of the envelopes and ballots, compare the number of ballots received with the number of Authorization Page | 16Forms previously submitted to them and record in the Minutes the conditions of the envelopes, and ballots and discrepancies in the number of the ballots as against the number of Authorization Forms recorded in the Minutes, if any. The time of the receipt of the envelopes and ballots from the EAPP/S-EAPP SS shall likewise be entered in the Minutes. Before actually feeding the ballots to the VCM, the EB Chairperson shall announce such action in the polling place. Thereafter, he/she shall feed the ballots to the VCM in the presence of the other members of the EBs, EAPP/S- EAPP SS and watchers. The feeding of the ballots shall take place before the closing of voting in the polling place. SECTION 30. EARLY CLOSE OF VOTING IN S-EAPP. - In case all the voters expected to vote in the S-EAPP have already cast their votes before the period provided in Section 11 hereof, the S-EAPP SS, by unanimous agreement, may Seclare early close of voting therein by observing the procedures provided for in Sections 28 and 29 hereof. SECTION 31. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES OF FIELD OFFICIALS. A. Responsibiliti 1. The BO/AEO of the district/city/municipality with voting center/s provided in Section 3 (b), Part I hereof shall be primarily responsible in the implementation of this General Instructions; and 2. The concerned PES/APES, RED and ARED shall be responsible in monitoring the compliance of their respective concerned EOs/AEOs with this General Instructions. B. Accountabilities: Failure of any of the abovementioned field officials to comply with the provisions of this Resolution shall be charged administratively for dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance and/or nonfeasance in office and, if found guilty, the corresponding penalty shall be imposed, after due notice and hearing, PART IV MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 32. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH OTHER CONCERNED AGENCIES. - The VSO may enter into an MOU with non-partisan Page | 17groups/organizations of PWDs and SCs and other concerned government agencies to ensure the effective implementation of this General Instructions. SECTION 33. EAPP DATA REPOSITORY. - The VSO, with the assistance of other concerned Departments / Offices of the Commission, shall be primarily in- Charged in the safekeeping and custody of all data, reports and any other documents submitted or gathered from the field offices, relative to the implementation of this General Instructions. SECTION 34. POST ELECTION ASSESSMENT AND SUBMISSION OF FINAL REPORT TO THE EN BANC. - To determine the result of the implementation of this General Instructions, the VSO shall conduct post-election assessment immediately after elections when this General Instructions have been implemented. ‘A Post Assessment Report shall be submitted to the En Banc by the VSO one (1) month after the conduct thereof. Such Report shall include a gender and disability disaggregated data of the PWD, SC and heavily pregnant voters who availed of EAPP and S-EAPP. SECTION 35, FUNDING REQUIREMENT. - The costs for establishment of EAPPs shall be borne by the Commission subject to auditing rules and regulations. SECTION 36, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES. - The following shall be provided: A. In EAPP/S-EAPP: oF Description Quantity Election Forms Al2 Paper Seals Pieces Envelopes Envelopes for the Official Ballots | 20 | Pieces Other Forms ‘agi__| Temporary Appointment of DESO EAPP/S-EAPP SS ed Certificate of Challenge of Protest . AaB and Decision of the EB Be |p Pieces ‘ago | Oath of Voter Challenged for tilezal | 5 | pieces Acts Page | 18‘ago. | Oathof Identification of Challenged | 5 | pieces Authorization Forms 100| Pieces. | EAPP Voters’ Turn-Out Template 1 Piece Supplies Bond Paper (long) 20 | Pieces | Ballot Secrecy Folder 10 | Pieces Thumbprint Taker 1 Piece Indelible Stain Ink 5 | Bottles Ballpens 10 | Pieces Log book 1 Piece ‘The foregoing shall be subject to the adjustment and final determination of the VSO depending on, among others, the final number of EAPPs/S-EAPP to be established nationwide. ‘A copy of this Resolution shall likewise be provided in the EAPP/S-EAPP. If warranted by the circumstances, this Resolution shall be translated into, at least, three (3) other major dialects for better appreciation and understanding of the implementers and the public in general. SECTION 37. SUPPLEMENTARY CLAUSE. - The other provisions of Resolution No, 10727 and other relevant Resolutions of the Commission shall in so far as they are applicable and not otherwise inconsistent with this Resolution shall remain in force and shall be suppletory to these General Instructions. SECTION 38, REPEALING CLAUSE. - Any previous Resolution/s inconsistent herewith is/are hereby repealed. SECTION 39. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any section or portion of this: Resolution is declared illegal or invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain valid and effective. SECTION 40. DISSEMINATION. - The VSO shall disseminate this Resolution to the OREDs and OPESs nationwide. The OREDs and OPESs shall disseminate copies of this Resolutions to their respective concerned OEOs. The EOs/AEOs shall provide copies of this Page | 1910761 Resolution to all candidates, political parties, citizens’ arms, civic organizations, if any, and other stakeholders within their respective jurisdictions. SECTION 41. IMPLEMENTATION. - The VSO shall implement this Resolution, in coordination with the ODEDO and with the assistance of the Election and Barangay Affairs Department, Finance Services Department (FSD), Procurement Management Department (PMD), Administrative Services Department (ASD), Personnel Department, and Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD). SECTION 42. EFFECTIVITY. - The Education and Information Department {EID) shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and shall take effect immediately after such publication. SO ORDERED. SOCORRO B. INTING ‘Acting Chairperson MARLON 8S. CASQUEJO AIMEE P. FEROLINO Commissioner Commissioner REY E. BULAY Commissioner CERTIFICATION APPROVED by the Commission En Banc during the regular online meeting on February 9, 2022, pursuant to COMELEC Resolution No. 10671, promulgated on June 9, 2020, titled, “Supplemental Resolution to COMELEC Resolution No. 9936, promulgated on March 25, 2015, Rule on the Enactment and Promulgation of Executive or Administrative Resolutions providing for other format of meetings to include online meetings applicable in times of COVID-19 pandemic and the imposition of Community Quarantines and similar emergency situations.” ATTY. B. DIOLA Acting COMELEC Secretary Page | 20