Dispatch from Crame No. 425:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement of Support to Senate Bill 2082
(COMELEC Reorganization)

11/28/2018

Elections play a critical role in democracies. It is the most basic form of participatory governance and a key element in our people's civil and political rights.

But how do we protect the sanctity of the ballot when those tasked to protect our votes are demoralized because they are underpaid compared to their counterparts in other government agencies and Constitutional Commissions.

Thus, I support the COMELEC Employees Union (COMELEC-EU) in their call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2082 which shall reorganize the said office and provide its employees with compensation proportional to the challenges and tasks they handle in ensuring honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.

Electoral reforms should not be limited to how we regulate and level the playing field among candidates but should also include strengthening the institutions and the people behind them that enable us to exercise our right to vote.

As a former election lawyer and a daughter of a former COMELEC Commissioner, I understand the tedious tasks of conducting elections nationwide.

In fact, last September 24, I filed Senate Bill 2025 which seeks to strengthen our poll body by increasing its personnel and allowing the creation of field offices at the regional, provincial and municipal levels. The bill also pegged the election assistants to voters ratio at one (1) for every twenty thousand (20,000).

In Senate Bill No. 371 which I also authored and sought to extend the terms of local officials and postpone the October 2016 barangay elections, one goal was to avoid burdening the COMELEC of having to administer two elections in a single year.

So, it is my hope that the passage of SB 2082 will revitalize our electoral workforce and further motivate them fulfill their vital mandate of ensuring clean and truthful elections in the country.

Huwag po nating kakalimutan na ang mga tauhan ng COMELEC ay mga manggagawa ring may taglay na mga karapatan. Unang-una na rito ang karapatan sa sapat at makatarungang pasahod.

Umaasa ako na itong SB 2082 ay maisasabatas na sa lalong madaling panahon.