Creation of multi-agency monitoring center

CAMP TOLENTINO, Balanga City – The National Elections will be held on May 9, 2016. As in the previous elections, the Commission on Election (COMELEC) isexpected to deputize the PNP, other law enforcement agencies and AFP to ensure a secure and fair election 2016.

Although generally peaceful, several unexpected undesirable events during the conduct of 2016 election might occur such as bomb threat, harassment of voters and BEI’s, vehicular breakdown accidents, delaying the transport of Voting Counting Machine (VCM), power failure on what had happened in the past.

To ensure security and integrity of election, the Bataan Police Provincial Office through the leadership of the Provincial Director PSSUPT Rhodel Orden Sermonia, in collaboration with the COMELEC created a “one-of- its-kind” Multi-Agency Election Monitoring Action Center, to act as central command and facilitate all possible election concerns come May 9, 2016 with a general objective of providing quick response by utilizing each agency’s resources.

Sermonia said that this multi-agency election monitoring action center through a competent and capable representative from each agency will create an inter-agency link among stakeholders to promote proper flow of communication and information from the polling center to the monitoring center vice-versa in gathering report, responding to emergencies and providing feedbacks and ensure a synchronized and timely mobilization of needed resources in addressing contingencies and situations that might affect election activities.

Sermonia added that the concept of operation of said center is a collaboration of efforts and resources of all stakeholders namely: PNP, AFP, MBDA, DepEd, PEO, PHO, PENELCO, PDRRMO, PPCRV, SMART, GLOBE, SUN, Smartmatic, 2GO Express, and Bataan NAMFREL in support to comprehensive and direct security coverage by the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) which should be activated from Day 1 until the last day of activity. It shall be jointly done under the COMELEC supervision and control as mandated by law.

Said action center will be established at the Bataan PPO conference hall and shall be equipped with the needed facilities, supplies and support personnel to assist in technical needs during the operation. The center started to function last May 4, 2016 upon the approval of the members of the stakeholders at Bulwagan I, Capitol Compound, this City.