MMDA, Comelec sign MOA, to share assets for Eleksyon 2025

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to coordinate and share assets for the 2025 national and local elections.

MMDA was represented by chairperson Romando Artes while Comelec was represented by chairperson George Garcia.

Under the MOA, Comelec will gain access to the MMDA’s command center, equipment, and personnel for election-related activities.

“’Yun pong mga assets ng MMDA, including our command center, our body cams, radios, deployable camera, at mobile command center ay atin pong ipapagamit at magiging under the disposal ng Comelec during the election period to ensure a clean, honest, and transparent election,” Artes said in a media briefing.

(The assets of the MMDA, including our command center, our body cams, radios, deployable camera, and mobile command center will be shared and placed under the disposal of Comelec during the election period to ensure a clean, honest, and transparent election.)

The MMDA will also provide Comelec with manpower and logistical support to assist election officers in the removal of unlawful election materials.

Artes called on candidates to be responsible in putting up their campaign materials.

“Otherwise, masasayang lang din ‘yan kasi tatanggalin lang din po ‘yan ng Comelec, katulong po ang MMDA,” Artes said.

(Otherwise, the materials will just be wasted because Comelec and MMDA will remove them.)

For his part, Garcia asked candidates and political parties to conduct training or orientation for their staff regarding their operations.

“Problema basta na lang kasi pinapabayaan eh (the problem is that they allow them to do whatever they want),” the poll body chairperson said.

“Sana may responsible way by which makakapagkabit sila ng mga campaign materials na consistent, pursuant sa aming guidelines, number one. Number two, na hindi naman tayo nakakaistorbo doon sa traffic, nakakaistorbo doon sa pedestrian,” Garcia added. 

(I hope there will be a responsible way for them to put up these campaign materials that are consistent and pursuant to our guidelines, number one. Number two, put them up in a way that won’t disturb traffic and pedestrians.)  

Meanwhile, Garcia said Comelec is also eyeing to give a service incentive leave to non-Comelec personnel who will serve as agents of the poll body.

“And siguro, hindi man namin kayang paswelduhin o bigyan ng honoraria ‘yung lahat… sa pamamagitan man lang ng service incentive leave at iba pang klaseng benepisyo ay mai-offer natin sa kanila,” he said.

(Because we can’t give them wages or honoraria, at least we can offer service incentive leaves and other kinds of benefits to them.)

Garcia also expressed hope that the agreement will continue past the current administration. 

“Kinakailangan ang pagtutulungan, pag-uugnayan ay lagi habang tayo ay naglilingkod sa sambayanan,” he said.

(Coordination should be continuous for as long as we are serving the public.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News