Guidelines for Registration of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

May 12, 2011

COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 9220

GUIDELINES FOR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs)

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149 promulgated on 22 February 2011, entitled "Rules and Regulations for the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Records in Non-ARMM Areas," provides that the system of continuing registration for Non-ARMM areas shall resume on 1 April 2011, and end on 31 October 2012;

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9168, promulgated on 22 March 2011, resets the schedule for the system of continuing registration in the Non-ARMM areas from 1 April 2011 to 3 May 2011;

WHEREAS, Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Philippines, directs State Parties to "guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others" and undertake measures to enable PWDs to vote on equal basis with others, inter alia;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7277 as amended by RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities defines PWDs as "those suffering from restriction or different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being;"

WHEREAS, the Technical Working Group constituted to help formulate policies to afford Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) greater access to the electoral processes, including the registration process, has recommended the identification of the type of disability of registrants to enable the Commission to amply prepare for the kinds of assistance that may be extended to PWDs on election day; HEcSDa

WHEREAS, the continuing registration should provide PWDs the chance to update their records by filling up the appropriate forms so that they can be accurately identified by the Commission on election day;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related election laws, the Commission on Elections RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following guidelines in filling-up the Registration Forms involving PWDs.

SECTION 1. Coverage. — These Guidelines shall cover the following registration-related activities: (a) Application for Registration; (b) Application for Transfer/Transfer with Reactivation; (c) Reactivation of Registration Record; (d) for Application for Change/Correction of Entries; and (e) Validation of Registration.

SECTION 2. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). — Persons with disabilities (PWDs) shall include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. For purposes of these Guidelines, PWDs shall include those with any of the following disabilities, which hamper the full enjoyment of the right to suffrage:

(a) Physical — Pertains to conditions associated with muscular or skeletal functions that limit a person's performance of activities associated with movement, both the person himself and/or of objects.

(b) Hearing — Pertains to conditions associated to the auditory senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of hearing.

(c) Speech — Pertains to conditions related to difficulties in communicating through speech.

(d) Visual — Pertains to conditions associated with visual senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of sight, among others.

(e) Non-Manifest — Pertains to conditions that are not immediately apparent but may need assistance from the COMELEC.

SECTION 3. Filling-up the Registration Forms. — For PWDs needing assistance, the applicant for registration/reactivation/transfer/correction of entry may indicate in the appropriate box (pertaining to "disabled/differently-abled persons"),the type(s) of impairment, as well as the form(s) of assistance needed during election day, as follows: CSDAIa

Code	Type of Disability	Code	Form of Assistance
1	Physical	A	Assistor
2	Hearing	B	Communication
			assistance
3	Speech	C	Accessible precinct
4	Visual	D	Visual Assistance
5	Non-Manifest (e.g., Autism,
	Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
	Disorder [ADHD])

Example: For person with physical impairment (code: 1) needing accessible precinct (code: C),put 1C on the box pertaining to "disabled/differently-abled" persons.

SECTION 4. Accomplishment of Application Form. — A PWD who cannot by himself/herself accomplish an application for registration, shall be assisted by the EO in the preparation of his/her application form, or by any member of an accredited Citizen's arm, or a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or if he/she has none present, by any person of his/her confidence who belongs to the same household, in accordance with Section 9 of Resolution No. 9149.

The Commission shall identify and tap the accredited Citizens' arm groups to implement the provisions of these Guidelines. The Commission shall also provide for sensitization trainings to the Election Officers and accredited Citizens' arm groups by familiarizing them with the application forms and assistorial duties.

SECTION 5. Updating of Records of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).— Persons with Disabilities who have previously registered but have not indicated the type of disability, or who may have developed/manifested such disability after having been registered, shall be allowed to update their registration records, and to indicate the type of assistance they need during election day. DTCSHA

SECTION 6. Information. — All Election Officers (EOs) are enjoined to post notice in their offices, and where satellite registrations are held, in such satellite offices, instructing persons with disabilities to indicate in the box provided the type of disability and the assistance they need on election day.

SECTION 7. Update on the Data Base. — The Information and Technology Department (ITD) shall update the existing fields in the existing database to ensure that data on the types of disability and assistance needed can be recorded and analyzed. The ITD shall coordinate with the EOs concerning the proper encoding of the data on the type of disability and assistance needed.

SECTION 8. Generation of Data. — The Election Officer shall generate data on registered PWDs for the sole purpose of determining policy directions for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes for the sector. The said data shall be submitted to the ITD every three months from the start of the registration period. The ITD shall immediately consolidate the data on the national level and submit the same to the Election Records and Statistics Division (ERSD).The ERSD shall generate statistics on the demographics and other pertinent information involving the PWDs throughout the country. The statistics generated shall be made accessible to concerned government offices, accredited citizen's arms and other organizations which promote the rights of the PWDs, subject to specific guidelines to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Resolution shall take effect immediately after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SECTION 10. Dissemination. — The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation, give the same the widest dissemination possible and furnish copies thereof to the Regional Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors and Election Officers in the Non-ARMM regions.

SECTION 11. Implementation. — The Office of the Executive Director is directed to cause the effective implementation of this Resolution.

SO ORDERED. EDISTc

 

(SGD.) SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR.Chairman

 

(SGD.) RENE V. SARMIENTOCommissioner

 

(SGD.) LUCENITO N. TAGLECommissioner

 

(SGD.) ARMANDO C. VELASCOCommissioner

 

(SGD.) ELIAS R. YUSOPHCommissioner

 

(SGD.) CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIMCommissioner

 

(SGD.) AUGUSTO C. LAGMANCommissioner