QuestionsQuestions (PROCLAMATION NO. 55)
The President acted “by virtue of the powers vested in me by law,” in response to the Commission on Elections’ request under Resolution No. 9083.
Typhoon Juan(a) delayed delivery of election paraphernalia in certain barangays and made schools unavailable for voting due to evacuees’ occupancy, plus some instances of election violation, causing postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay Elections in those barangays.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010.
In certain barangays (2,418 barangays) located in specified regions, provinces, and municipalities/cities where the SK and Barangay Elections had yet to be held.
To afford the people in the affected barangays the fullest opportunity to participate in the elections and exercise their right to vote, by allowing one more day to hold the delayed elections.
COMELEC issued Resolution No. 9083 requesting the President to declare October 26 and 27 as special non-working holidays in the barangays where the SK and Barangay Elections had not yet been held.
No. It enumerates the municipalities/cities and mentions that the affected barangays are to be specified by COMELEC; Section 2 directs COMELEC to identify the exact barangays where the holiday will be observed.
It mandates COMELEC to specify the barangays within the listed municipalities/cities where the special non-working holiday will actually be observed.
It “shall take effect immediately.”
It ties the postponement (caused by disaster impacts and logistical constraints) to a compensatory measure—declaring a special holiday—to increase voter participation and allow elections to proceed.
The right to vote and to participate fully in elections.
It clarifies that the special holiday is targeted specifically at barangay-level electoral processes that were delayed in certain barangays.
The proclamation’s operative declaration in Section 1 is for October 27, 2010; although COMELEC’s resolution requested both October 26 and 27, Proclamation No. 55 as quoted declares October 27.
Disasters that disrupt voting logistics and polling locations can justify extraordinary measures, including adjusting election schedules and declaring special non-working holidays to ensure voters can still participate.
Because the final identification of covered barangays remains with COMELEC, while the listed local government units provide the initial coverage framework for the disaster-affected areas.
The estimated total count of barangays in the covered municipalities/cities where the election has not yet been held and where a special non-working holiday is intended to support completion of elections.