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From L-R: COMELEC Chairperson Atty. George Erwin Garcia; H.E. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya; and Dr. Selva Ramachandran, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative
Metro Manila — In a ceremony held in Manila, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson Atty. George Erwin Garcia and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Philippines Dr. Selva Ramachandran signed an agreement to turn over pivotal ICT equipment to COMELEC. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya witnessed the handover ceremony. This initiative aims to support electoral inclusion and digitalization for the upcoming first regular elections for the Bangsamoro Parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in May 2025.
Funded by the Government of Japan, the Project on Raising Voters’ Awareness and Promoting Digitalization of the Electoral Process in Bangsamoro is being implemented by UNDP to enhance COMELEC’s digitalization capacity. This initiative ensures the development of data-driven and online solutions that promote inclusive political participation, including gender equality, in electoral processes.
The Government of Japan has committed a grant of two hundred thirty-four million Japanese Yen (¥234,000,000) to support this initiative.
As part of the handover, COMELEC received twenty (20) Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite units and solar generators to ensure secure internet connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in BARMM during the elections. Additionally, a server and forty (40) Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions were procured to support the digitalization of key COMELEC processes, including the online filing of candidates' Statements of Campaign Expenditures.
In his keynote speech, COMELEC Chairperson Atty. Garcia emphasized that the initiative will support “the advancement of COMELEC equipment and technology that we can use for purposes of easy monitoring in coordination with our field personnel, especially in the conduct of the upcoming election.”
The Government of Japan has been a steadfast supporter of the Philippines in achieving sustainable development and lasting peace in Mindanao and remains a committed development partner of UNDP Philippines.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuya noted that “through the provision of satellite communication units, servers, and SD-WAN solutions, we hope to introduce the benefits of digitalization in this democratic exercise. With equipment for more ideal data processing and transmission, stakeholders will be able to better harness vital information for analyses and decision-making.”
Electoral inclusion will be pivotal in the 2025 BARMM elections—particularly in ensuring the participation of women, indigenous peoples, youth, and other vulnerable populations.
To strengthen electoral capacities, UNDP Philippines, in close collaboration with COMELEC, is working to enhance democratic participation and inclusion. The initiative focuses on improving voter education, particularly for those at risk of disenfranchisement and those residing in last-mile communities.
Through this project, data analytics is being leveraged to help COMELEC design targeted interventions for various localities and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the digitalization of key COMELEC processes is being undertaken using advanced ICT equipment to ensure the swift and reliable processing of election data and improve public access to relevant election information nationwide.
