MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will invite bloggers to cover the 2010 elections, from the preparations up to the proclamation of winners, a spokesman for the poll body said Thursday.

The Comelec is formulating a “framework of cooperation” with the blogging community to cover key points in the elections such as voter education and field testing of counting machines, the commision’s spokesman, James Jimenez said.

“We believe that bloggers represent a significant part of the general public to be informed about the most recent developments in elections automation,” Jimenez, who is also a blogger, told INQUIRER.net.

Jimenez cited the potential of blogs to educate the electorate, especially the youth.

Blogger and freelance journalist Tonyo Cruz said bloggers would play a crucial role in the upcoming elections by offering a “more democratic coverage.”

“Bloggers, new media publishers, and Filipino netizens can help democratize the media landscape as the nation gears for the elections,” Cruz said.

Cruz said “reform-minded” bloggers could organize a network of citizen journalists to guard against fraud or help their favored candidates win.