Comelec forms New Normal Committee

January 7 ------ The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to create a “new normal” committee amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In Resolution No. 10688 dated December 16, 2020, the poll body said the Commission has resolved to create the Comelec New Normal Committee for the conduct of electoral exercises under the new normal conditions. “As long as the world has not found a cure nor a vaccine against this COVID-19 virus, the Commission must adjust to a new normal state/situation, which differs from the state on that prevailed prior to the start of this COVID-19 pandemic,” the resolution read.

The CNNC shall have the following functions: to consult the appropriate government agencies/departments with technical authority on health issues for new normal minimum public health standards/protocols, which aim to prevent further spread/transition of the COVID-19 virus; to identify which of the current election operational activities need/require changes and management/administrative intervention, so that the spread/transmission of the COVID-19 virus could be managed/controlled/minimized during the operational activities for the conduct of electoral exercises; and also formulate and develop a comprehensive Comelec New Normal manual covering a continuing program with due regard to the stage of the pandemic.

The poll body, however, said that the functions of the CNNC shall only be limited to regular operations and monitoring of election operational activities with the formulated new normal standards/protocols, as embodied in the Comelec New Normal manual. “New normal matters in connection to the implementation of the Automated Elections shall be under the jurisdiction of the Project Management Office,” the resolution read. A commissioner-in-charge is set to be designated as CNNC chairman while the Comelec Executive Director will serve as vice chairman.

Source: mb.com.ph