Commission on Elections Chairperson J. Andres D. Bautista and Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) wherein the DPWH will provide consultancy services to the COMELEC for the construction of its main office building integrated field offices (IFOs).
“The COMELEC has been a renter for too long.” Bautista remarked, “and we are looking forward to finally having a building that will physically reflect the institution’s Constitutionally mandated independence as well as providing secure facilities for the management of future automated elections, and adequate working space for various election related undertakings.”
Bautista explained that the proposed COMELEC Main Building includes plans for a multi-purpose facility and secure warehouse for the storage of election equipment and supplies “Having these facilities clustered together in one place enhances our ability to secure the, while also making it easier to ensure the transparency and efficiency of our operations,” Bautista said.
“Our stakeholders will appreciate the ease with which they will soon be able to keep abreast of developments within the Commission.”
Bautista further clarified that the MOA with the DPWH also paved the way for the COMELEC’s thrust to strengthen the Commission’s presence in the field, through the construction of IFOs. Under existing law, local government units (LGUs) are mandated to provide facilities for local COMELEC offices which, Bautista said, often led to concerns about COMELEC independence. “While in many instances these concerns are unfounded, it would still be better for local COMELEC offices not to be under any cloud of suspicion. COMELEC-built IFOs will provide that of guarantee for the public, “Bautista expounded. (COMELEC-PR)
