First Voter Care Center Launched In Baguio City

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Cordillera regional office launched the first COMELEC Voter Care Center (CVCC) in the country on Thursday.

Baguio City was chosen as the pilot area for easy monitoring of the project’s progress since the proponent is election officer John Paul Martin, who is based at the Baguio City field office.

In the press briefing, Martin said the CVCC aims to bridge the gap between the Baguio City electorate and the COMELEC.

Martin said the general objective of the CVCC is to enhance the level of awareness and knowledge of the citizens about their rights and impart the COMELEC services available to the people.

Martin added that the CVCC is a result of his academic paper entitled “Establishment of COMELEC Baguio City Election Hotline and Action Desk” which was presented to the commission, was approved and renamed “COMELEC Voter Care Center – Baguio.”

Martin and the commission, through COMELEC Commissioner Louie Tito Guia, are hopeful that the project be successful that it may be replicated in other major cities in the country.

The CVCCBC is a hotline aimed to provide access to the public regarding election and voting matters.

Martin said major services of CVCC is the verification of precinct number and polling places, printing of voter’s identification card, certification of the voter’s registration record.

The CVCC will also accept reports on anomalies during and after the election process which may be delegated to the government agency concerned.

Concerned agencies include the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine National Police (PNP), The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Local Government Unit (LGU) represented by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the Office of Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr.

The CVCCBC was tested last year and is now ready to provide services to the public but can only cater to calls on their hotline, Martin said.

The COMELEC Voter Care Center will be available year round and not just during elections, Martin added. (PNA) PGL/JOJOBLAMARIA/EBP