The Philippines is entering a unique period in its history, with its first ever nationwide elections to be conducted in the middle of a pandemic. As such, Democracy Watch calls on every stakeholder in the country to do their part to ensure a free, fair, credible, and safe election this coming 2022.
We call on the government to continue the necessary preparations to COVID-proof the polls. This does not just mean on-the-day implementation of health protocols. Today’s pandemic response must be done with urgency and the goal to create a safer environment for voters and volunteers alike by the time May 2022 comes around. We call on the government to test, trace, treat, and vaccinate as much people as possible and as fast as possible. The rest of the world continues to return to “normal.” Meanwhile, we in the Philippines are still debating whether face shields are effective or not.
The new normal is one that Filipinos have learned to adapt to. Some attribute this to our resilience. But resilience is no excuse for government’s sorely lacking pandemic response. Lockdowns alone, ours now stand at over a year and a half, are clearly not enough.
In terms of the elections, these lockdowns have robbed Filipinos of over a hundred days to be able to register to vote. We thank the Commission on Elections for extending the voters’ registration period to make up for lost time, but we also see this as a telltale sign that the pandemic response has hampered certain democratic processes, and this should not be so.
We call for a data-driven approach to addressing the pandemic. We ask that public health experts be at the forefront of solving the pandemic crisis. And we ask that the government capacitate the health sector through proper and transparent allocation of funds. Our frontliners are fighting a long-drawn-out war against the coronavirus, and the government can do much more in supporting them.
Beyond this, Democracy Watch calls on stakeholders from civil society, the private sector, the academe, and the media to be vigilant as we enter election season. These groups have their roles to play in holding our public servants accountable, in engaging candidates on concerns of different sectors. These groups also have a role in educating voters and clearly communicating key issues surrounding elections.
Finally, for Filipino voters, Democracy Watch calls for citizens to register if you haven’t yet. We have until the end of the week to do so. We also call on citizens to cast their votes wisely – to choose leaders who will uphold the rule of law, be responsive to public needs and issues, and stand for integrity, transparency, and accountability.
The work for deepening democracy continues, and we all have a part to play in it. May we remember this as we move towards the 2022 elections, and may we ensure that democracy goes on.