MANILA – The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines signed on Thursday an agreement that aims to promote voter awareness and transparency for the upcoming parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Japanese Ambassador ENDO Kazuya signed and exchanged notes with Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Resident Representative of the UNDP, for “The Project for Raising Voters’ Awareness and Promoting Digitalization of Electoral Process in Bangsamoro” in Makati City on Thursday.
The signing ceremony was attended by Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Director and Special Assistant to the Chairman Atty. Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Director Anthon A. Cayaco, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU) Mr. Carlos Domingo Guevara.
In his speech, Ambassador Endo underscored the cooperation of the stakeholders present during the signing ceremony, saying that the “successful conduct of this election has the potential to greatly validate the key decisions and dialogue behind the peace process.”
“In aiding the BARMM’s citizens in their decisive choices, our partnership with the COMELEC and the UNDP aims to introduce greater clarity to the electoral process, build up the capacities of concerned stakeholders, and help bring about a more participative voter base through digitalization,” Endo said.
Endo expressed his hope that the citizens of BARMM will have greater accessibility to information on the candidates and political parties, as well as learn more about the “distinctive structure” of the Bangsamoro Parliament in contrast to that of the national government.
The Ambassador also is hopeful that through the project, voter apprehension will lessen, confidence in the political system will strengthen, and that voters will be equipped with knowledge to arrive at fact-driven decisions to help make the most of their respective votes.
Ramachandran echoed Endo’s sentiment, saying that voter education, digitalization initiatives, and ensuring inclusion in the democratic process is a step to achieving security and prosperity in the region, aiding UNDP to help achieve sustainable development goals in BARMM.
“The project on raising voters' awareness and promoting digitalization of the electoral process in Bangsamoro aligns with both our organizational goals and the broader development agenda of the Philippines,” Ramachandran said.
“It enables UNDP to contribute to expanding democratic space in a region where poverty reduction and security for all are key priorities, ultimately aiding to the achievement of sustainable development goals,” he added.
The signing ceremony was attended by Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Director and Special Assistant to the Chairman Atty. Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Director Anthon A. Cayaco, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU) Mr. Carlos Domingo Guevara. (Photo courtesy of Karen A. Ow-Yong / DZRH)
Meanwhile, COMELEC Director and Special Assistant to the Chairman Frances Carolyn Aguindadao-Arabe expressed appreciation for the project, and for the “crucial role” of both the government of Japan and the UNDP in the democratic process; particularly in implementing digitalization initiatives, as the country prepares for the first regular elections of the Bangsamoro Parliament in May 2025.
“This project, Promoting Awareness and Digitalization of the Electoral Process in Bangsamoro, not only aligns with our national development priorities, but also contributes significantly to the broader vision of sustainable development in the Philippines,” Atty. Aguindadao-Arabe said in her remarks.
“UNDP has been instrumental in aiding COMELEC through various initiatives focused on digitalization and promoting women’s political participation,” Aguindadao-Arabe mentioned.
She added that this collaboration has “significantly bolstered COMELEC’s capacity to “modernize the electoral process, ensuring greater transparency, efficiency, and inclusiveness”.
According to the Embassy of Japan, total funding for the project is JPY234 million or approximately PHP 91.3 million pesos and will run for 1 year and 6 months.
According to the UNDP, implementation of the program will start this coming September 2024.
