REVISED GUIDELINES FOR THE CHARGING OF FEES IN THE ISSUANCE OF VOTER'S CERTIFICATION, AMENDING MINUTE RESOLUTION NO. 01-1098
WHEREAS, pursuant to COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 01-1098 entitled "IN THE MATTER OF THE RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN THE RATES OF FEES AND CHARGES PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 4503 PROMULGATED 18 JULY 2001", the prescribed fee in the issuance of Voter's Certification, per requesting voter is Php 75.00;
WHEREAS, the Voter's Certification is available at the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD), through its National Central File Division (NCFD) and the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs);
WHEREAS, on April 18, 2017, Mr. Norhassin G. Sinarimbo, Head Office, Community and Family Services International (CFSI), CFSI Sub - Office, Zamboanga City, requested for the exemption of "untagged IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons)" in the payment of fees for the issuance of Voter's Certification. The Voter's Certification will be utilized as attachment by "untagged IDPs" in applying for birth registration records and subsequent enrollment as target beneficiaries in the Zamboanga Recovery Project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Australia;
WHEREAS, during the regular session of the Commission En Banc on June 6, 2017, when the request of the CFSI was taken up, there was a proposal to exempt not only the IDPs in Zamboanga City but all registered voters in Mindanao in the payment of certification fee, taking into consideration the declaration of Martial Law (Proclamation No. 216) in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, as a result of the peace and order situation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The proposal was approved. Further, the issuance of the Voter's Certification free of charge in Mindanao shall be effective, until revoked by the Commission En Banc.
NOW THEREFORE, the Commission, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES to:
- EXEMPT all registered voters in the cities and municipalities of Mindanao, in paying the Php 75.00 certification fee for the issuance of Voter's Certification until otherwise ordered by the Commission En Banc, subject to the following conditions:
- Voters shall personally claim during office hours (8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.), their Voters' Certification at the OEOs where they are registered. Registered voters in Marawi City who are staying at evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, must claim their certification at the Offices of the Provincial Election Supervisors in Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte, respectively; and,
- The Voter's Certification must be duly signed by the issuing office, bearing the dry seal of the Commission and a statement that the same is being issued free of charge, pursuant to this Resolution.
- DIRECT the following field offices to submit quarterly report, for documentation purposes:
- The OEO shall submit its report on the issuance of Voter's Certification to the concerned OPES;
- The OPES shall in turn, consolidate the reports for submission to the Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED); and,
- Finally, the ORED shall submit its consolidated report to the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD), thru fax numbers (02) 525-56-92 / (02) 527-31-37 or email at ebad@comelec.gov.ph..
- DIRECT the Information Technology Department (ITD), to provide the concerned OPES (Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte) with the Voter Registration System (VRS) and the local voters' database of Marawi City.
Let the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) and the Information Technology Department (ITD), implement this Resolution.
SO ORDERED.
SIGNED:
- BAUTISTA, J. ANDRES D., Chairman
- LIM, CHRISTIAN ROBERT S., Commissioner
- PARREÑO, AL A., Commissioner
- LIM, ARTHUR D., Commissioner
- GUANZON, MA. ROWENA AMELIA V., Commissioner
- ABAS, SHERIFF M., Commissioner
ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS:
- GUIA, LUIE TITO F., Commissioner