STATEMENT OF AMBASSADOR GAA ON THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL ELECTIONS
|
| |
The Philippines has reached a democratic milestone with the implementation of automated voting and counting
in this year‘s national elections. The first automated voting in the Philippines and in the region has been a
success, as reports streaming from different parts of the country showed a positive trend. The May 10 political
exercise is a triumph of a sovereign Filipino people and their opportunity to display a strong, stable and vibrant
democracy.
This year’s elections have also been characterized as “smooth” and “orderly.” This year’s elections have been
described as the most peaceful elections in comparison to the two recently held elections in 2004 and 2007.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) noted that compared to the last two elections, election-related violence
was lower by 75%.
The Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) initially reported 75% voter turn-out or 30.4 million votes
out of 50.7 million registrants. Recent reports now indicate more than 40 million votes received. Rapid
transmission of election results were achieved with more than 80% of the votes counted just a day after the
elections. While minor difficulties and some issues were being reported to, and experienced by election
personnel, the over-all efficiency of the automated polls belied allegations of possible fraud and cheating.
Likewise, fears of disenfranchisement were proven unfounded. In this regard, the valuable lessons learned
from this election and the remedies that relevant authorities will surely be implementing after this election will
only serve to further enhance and improve the credibility and fairness of Philippine elections in the future.
Overseas absentee voting in the United States proceeded smoothly, thereby allowing Filipino communities to
participate in the democratic process in the Philippines. Participation in overseas absentee voting has
increased in comparison to the previous elections of 2004 and 2007. Out of a total of 6,958 registered voters
under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., 1,749 have mailed in or personally
delivered their votes to the Embassy.
Overseas absentee votes in the United States are currently being canvassed here at the Embassy.
Representatives from our Consulates General in the United States have been arriving today and later this
evening to bring in their election results for canvassing. The results of the canvassing of the U.S. overseas vote
should be accomplished by Thursday this week.
This is a moment in which all Filipinos can be proud of; a major step forward in our democracy has been
achieved. Once again, Filipinos have reaffirmed to the world that we are a nation and a people that remain
strongly committed to democratic ideals and principles.
The Philippine Congress has yet to proclaim the winners of this election, but at this stage of the process, it can
already be safely said that the biggest winner in all of this is democracy in the Philippines and the sovereign will
of the Filipino people. END.
|
| |
BALLOT COUNTING AND CANVASSING FOR ELECTORAL BALLOTS CONDUCTED AT THE
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY
|
| |
Members of the Special Board of Election Inspectors of the Philippine Embassy conduct an examination of
ballots received from registered Filipinos who participated in this year’s Philippine national elections, as Consul
General Domingo Nolasco, who chairs the Special Board of Canvassers, explains to the members of the
Filipino-American media the mechanics of proper ballot inspection observed by the committee prior to its
inclusion in the actual ballot counting. Overseas absentee voters in the United States participated in postal
voting, which ended on 10 May 2010 at 7:00 a.m. EDT (7:00 p.m. in the Philippines) END.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
Palace assures seamless transition of administration
|
| |
To ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public serves during the transition period before the new President
assumes office on July1, Malacanang is asking all government departments to immediately prepare individual
transition blueprints.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn said the directive is included in
Administrative Order (AO) 285 which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued last May 9.
In a media briefing today in Malacanang, Horn said AO 285 created the Presidential Transition Cooperation
Team (PTCT) and the Agency Transition Cooperation Team (ATCT) to put in place a blueprint for the seamless
transition and to orient the incoming administration.
“We will definitely be working cooperatively with them to make sure that there is a seamless transition of
administration,” Horn said.
Chaired by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, PTCT will have as members the Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DepEd), National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and PMS.
Horn said the PTCT will serve as the overall central coordination team on the preparation of the detailed
transition blueprint; and consolidate Operational Transition Reports (OTRs) and Functional Transition Reports
(FTRs) to be prepared by each agency.
Horn said the PTCT will orient the incoming administration and readily provide information, such as the vision,
mission, mandate, and structure of each agency.
Included in the orientation, Horn said, are the organizational structure, pending projects, and inventory of key
plantilla and co-terminus positions.
Horn said the PTCT will also help in the recommendation to give out due recognition to individuals and non-
government and civic organizations, which provided help and undertaken notable projects during the President’
s term.
Meanwhile, the agencies under the ATCT will provide the OTRs, which include information on the assets,
budget, plantilla, vacant positions, and ongoing rationalization plan.
Horn said agencies will also prepare the FTRs that include the inventory of policies and priority projects, other
orientation materials and how to provide technical support like trainings for the incoming officials.
Horn said all government agencies must submit their respective output by May 17 in time for the transitional
planning session on May 20-21 to formulate a blueprint which will be then submitted to the Cabinet.
|
| |
Two-tiered transition process set up
|
| |
Transition teams in two levels – one based in Malacanang and the other in executive department agencies --
will make sure that the new administration will have the benefit of a strong and stable structure ready to continue
working once governmental powers are turned over to the next President of the Republic.
The elected successor to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is required by law to assume office on June 30.
President Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 285 last May 9 creating the Presidential Transition
Cooperation Team (PTCT) and Agency Transition Cooperation Team (ATCT) to oversee the transition to the next
administration.
The PTCT shall be responsible for the overall implementation, coordination and supervision of the entire
transition blueprint.
Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza has been designated to head the PTCT with Foreign Affairs Secretary
Romulo, Education Secretary Mona Valisno, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr., NEDA Director General Augusto
Santos, PMS Director-General Maria Elena Bautista-Horn and PIA Director General Conrado Limcaoco as
members.
The Office of the Executive Secretary and the PMS will provide the technical and secretariat support to PTCT.
The AO also created the Agency Transition Cooperation Team (ATCT) that shall be responsible for the
preparation of each government agency’s Organizational Transition Reports (OTRs) and Functional Transition
Reports (FTRs).
The ATCT will be led by the head of agency with the senior undersecretary as vice-chair and senior career
officials as members.
A transition coordinator in each agency shall be appointed to regularly coordinate with the PTCT Secretariat.
A transition planning session will be conducted on May 20 to May 21 to establish and define the processes and
parameters that shall guide the government during the transition period.
Results of the planning will be the formulation of a Transition Blueprint which will provide for the efficient and
effective turn-over and the continued functions of the bureaucracy in the early days of the next Administration.
The Blueprint shall cover all government departments, agencies, bureaus, government-owned and –controlled
corporations (GOCCs) and other instrumentalities including attached agencies under the Office of the President.
|
| |
PGMA’s peace initiatives will benefit next administration
|
| |
Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Anabelle Abaya today expressed hopes that the next President will
continue the ongoing peace efforts, as she cited the government’s gains made by President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo in peace building efforts during her term.
“We will hand over the accomplishments that we have done in hope that they might help to move it forward in a
more meaningful way,” Abaya said during a news conference today in Malacañang.
Although a comprehensive agreement with the rebel groups is still out of sight, Abaya said the peace talks with
rebel groups are moving forward and ‘almost close’ to reaching substantial agreements.
Abaya said that since last year when she assumed office, government was able to reach agreements with rebel
groups, among them the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, on civil protection mechanism rules as well as on rules
on the elimination of landmines.
She said the government was able to end hostilities through the suspension of military operations (SOMO) and
activiated the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Joint Action Group for
criminal activities including kidnapping.
“We came up with agreements on the Moro Islamic Development Leadership Institute in order to give them
ability to govern and lead,” she said.
The most difficult part of the peace talks, she said, remains to be on issues concerning ancestral domain and
governance.
“I don’t believe we can come up with comprehensive agreement, but we are continuing to pursue other
agreements that will build and move the peace process forward,” Abaya said.
When asked about fears that the next administration might set aside some of the efforts already done, Abaya
said: “I think it would be very dangerous for the next administration to undo, especially the agreements we have
done particularly with the rebel groups.
“We have done this in all transparency that is why we have made a lot of effort in order to create consensus and
get feedback from people,” Abaya said.
|
| |
PSE lauds automated polls; cites PGMA’s initiatives
|
| |
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), through Ms. Beth Lacson, head of PSE Public and Investor Relations
Section, issued today this statement on highly positive market trends that followed Monday’s (May 10) elections:
“The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) lauded the success of the country’s first automated polls and
acknowledged this initiative by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“The peaceful conduct of the 2010 elections owing largely to the country’s first foray into an automated polling
system is a large factor in maintaining investor confidence in the stock market and ensuring political continuity
that is a key impetus for growth,” PSE Chairman Hans B. Sicat said.
Following the May 10 elections, the main PSE index recorded its highest percentage gain in more than eight
months on May 11. The PSEi closed at 3262.93 on May 11, surging by 120.87 points or 3.85 percent, its biggest
percentage gain after August 24, 2009 when it recorded a gain of 5.11 percent.
On Wednesday, the PSEi rose 6.48 points or 0.2 percent to finish at 3269.41 points.
PSE operates the only stock exchange in the Philippines with 250 listed companies and 132 operating trading
participants.”
|
| |
|
