AMBASSADOR Endo Kazuya led the ceremonial signing and exchange of notes for “The Project for Raising Voters’ Awareness and Promoting Digitalization of Electoral Process in Bangsamoro” at the Ambassador’s residence in Makati City, on Aug. 1, 2024.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran also graced the event.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures including Comelec director and special assistant to the chairman Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe, Department of Foreign Affairs assistant director Anthon A. Cayaco of the, and Carlos Domingo Guevara of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU).
With the goal of achieving peace, stability, and progressive socio-economic development, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018, witnessed a significant stride in this mission. Accordingly, all peace and development efforts will culminate in the momentous first Bangsamoro parliamentary election in 2025.
In support of the upcoming election, including the Barangay elections, the Government of Japan will provide a grant of JPY 234 million (approximately USD 1.5 million) to the UNDP. This funding will support a 1.5-year-long project in partnership with the Comelec to enhance voter education and digitalize key election management processes. This project aims to boost voter participation by informing the citizens, – particularly women and vulnerable groups in last-mile areas – about the Bangsamoro Parliament’s role and the specifics of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code for a more inclusive and comprehensive election.
Additionally, the project addresses digitalization challenges by partnering with the Comelec to deliver accurate information, encourage voter registration, and build trust in the electoral process through effective communication and transparency. By leveraging information and communication technology, the project will contribute to a more inclusive and transparent election, ensuring that the BARMM autonomous government is duly elected in a fair and comprehensive manner.
Recognizing the myriad of challenges that can arise during an election, Ambassador Endo conveyed Japan’s expectation for the Comelec to exert its strong leadership in ensuring the democratic and transparent implementation of the coming and future elections by maximizing the said inputs of the project, as well as the hope that, with the collective concerted efforts in promoting regional development and cohesion, “the sun rises on a more hopeful and peaceful BARMM following the elections.”
