Comelec creates ‘new normal’ panel; names Neri as chair

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formed a “new normal” committee to make this year’s polls “COVID-proof” and named Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as its chair.

“Just yesterday, I was appointed as the chair for the New Normal Committee,” Neri herself announced Thursday during the joint press briefing of Comelec and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

FILE PHOTO: Aimee Torrefranca-Neri. FROM THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN’S FB PAGE

“It is my personal advocacy to ensure safe elections with regard to the observation of health protocols, particularly COVID-proofing our election. Why? Because the election is a superspreader event and we are not out of the woods yet,” she added.

Amid the persistent threat of COVID-19, the Comelec issued plans to ensure the voters’ safety on May 9, Election Day.

Among the initiatives that the Comelec would take to make the polls COVID-proof were:

• conducting a public simulation of voting in an isolation polling place
• creation of its own medical advisory board
• partnering with health and medical groups to set up medical desks

The isolation polling place, the Comelec said, will accommodate voters who will show symptoms of COVID-19 so that they could still exercise their right to vote.

According to Neri, these measures are necessary because there are 67.5 million registered voters who will go out to cast their vote on May 9.

KGA