Resolution No. 9220 - Guidelines for Registration of Persons With Disabilities (PWDS)

Resolution No. 9220

GUIDELINES FOR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs)

[Promulgation: 12 May 2011]

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149 promulgated on 22 February 201, entitled Rules and Regulations for the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Records in Non-ARMM, provides that they system of continuing registration for Non-ARMM areas shall resume on 1 April 2011, and end on 31 October 2012;

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9168, promulgated on 22 March 2011, resets the schedule for the system of continuing registration in the Non-ARMM areas from 1 April 2011 to 3 May 2011;

WHEREAS, Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Philippines, directs State Parties to guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others and undertake measures to enable PWDs to vote on equal basis with others, inter alia;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7277 as amended by RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities defines PWDs as those suffering from restriction or different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being;

WHEREAS, the Technical Working Group constituted to help formulate policies to afford Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) greater access to the electoral processes, including the registration process, has recommended the identification of the type of disability of registrants to enable the Commission to amply prepare for the kinds of assistance that may be extended to PWDs on election day;

WHEREAS, the continuing registration should provide PWDs the change to update their records by filling up the appropriate forms so that they can be accurately identified by the Commission on election day;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related election laws, the Commission on Elections RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following guidelines in filling-up the Registration Forms involving PWDs.

Section 1. Coverage. - These Guidelines shall cover the following registration-related-activities:

a. Application for Registration; 

b. Application for Transfer/Transfer with Reactivation; 

c. Reactivation of Registration Record; 

d. For Application for Change/Correction of Entries; and 

e. Validation of Registration.

Section 2. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). - Persons with disabilities (PWDs) shall include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others,  For purposes of these Guidelines, PWDs shall include those with any of the following disabilities, which hamper the full enjoyment of the right to suffrage:

a. Physical - Pertains to conditions associated with muscular or skeletal functions that limit a persons performance of activities associated with movement, both the person himself and/or of objects. 

b. Hearing - Pertains to conditions associated to the auditory senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of hearing. 

c. Speech - Pertains to conditions related to difficulties in communicating through speech. 

d. Visual - Pertains to conditions associated with visual senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of sight, among others. 

e. Non-Manifest - Pertains to conditions that are not immediately apparent but may need assistance from the COMELEC.

Section 3. Filling-up the Registration Forms. - For PWDs needing assistance, the applicant for registration/reactivation/transfer/correction of entry may indicate in the appropriate box (pertaining to disables/differently-abled persons), the type(s) of impairment, as well as the form(s) of assistance needed during election day, as follows:

Example:  For person with physical impairment (code: 1) needing accessible precinct (code: C), put 1C on the box pertaining to disabled/differently-abled persons.

Section 4. Accomplishment of application Form. - A PWD who cannot by himself/herself accomplish an application for registration, shall be assisted by the EO in the preparation of his/her application form, or by any member of an accredited Citizens arm, or a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or if he/she has none present, by any person of his/her confidence who belongs to the same household, in accordance with Section 9 of Resolution No. 9149.