MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday said that its voters' information drive in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is in full swing despite the spate of kidnappings, blackouts and floods that hit several areas in the region.
"The Comelec is determined to educate the people on the rudiments of automated balloting," said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, citing the help the poll body received from its system providers and citizen's arm.
"The reports we have been receiving from our people in the field are very encouraging. We commend them for their valiant efforts," he said while expressing confidence that the preparations would yield positive results.
The Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms Inc, one of the accredited citizens arms of the Comelec, said it appreciates "the rapid voters' education campaign of Comelec and SmartmaticSahi," the system provider for the automated elections in the ARMM.
"We are optimistic that the voters education on poll automation will reach in due time all electorates in the ARMM region," said Salic Ibrahim, chairman of Citizens CARE and team leader of the Regional Coordinating Council for the ARMM elections.
Citizen's Care was among the participants in the province-wide electoral stakeholders' forum and launching of a voters education campaign in Maguindanao.
Smartmatic-Sahi is the poll body's technology provider tasked to implement the Direct Recording Electronic technology in Maguindanao for the August 11 automated ARMM elections. - PR/GMANews.TV