The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), a Church-based poll watchdog, supported the call of the Commission on Elections to consider elections officers as “frontliners” during the pandemic.
“Beyond the [elections] officers, anyone in the government right now doing their duties still despite the lockdown, despite the dangers of the pandemic should be recognized,” said Angel Antonio, PPCRV director.
He said these people should be “applauded for the time, the effort, and the service they are giving.”
Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon earlier appealed to the government to recognize elections officers as “frontliners” for them to be able to avail of COVID-19 vaccines.
Voter registration in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal remained suspended this week due to the extended “enhanced community quarantine.”
The Commission on Elections has earlier called on voters to strictly adhere to minimum health standards when they register for the 2022 national elections.
The Comelec aims to add four million new voters for the 2022 elections. The agency said more than two million people were already registered as new voters.