Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) | Minute Resolution No. 11-0618

IN THE MATTER OF THE PROPOSED COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

Date: 31 May 2011

This pertains to the May 25, 2011 Memorandum of Commissioner Armando C. Velasco, Chairman, Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV), proposing that the COAV composition be streamlined.

The Memorandum of Commissioner Velasco reads:

"Presently, the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) is composed of the Undersigned Commissioner as Chairman, Deputy Executive Director for Administration Estrella P. De Mesa as Vice-Chairman, and eleven (11) members, most of whom are either high-level officials or action lawyers of the Commission. It has been observed, however, that because of their additional tasks in the Committee, some of its members are unnecessarily overburdened with work, which, potentially, can adversely affect their performance of their respective duties. In view of this, the Undersigned proposes that the COAV membership be streamlined to include, aside from its Chairman, only such other officials and personnel who, by the nature of their regular functions and their experience, are absolutely necessary for and germane to the purposes of the COAV. These are:

1. The Deputy Executive Director for Operations (DEDO) – among others, to ensure that the activities and timelines of the COAV are in sync with those of the Commission as a whole. He shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the COAV;
2. The Director IV, Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) – given that among the most important functions of the COAV is the registration of overseas Filipinos;
3. The Director IV, Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) – for proper maintenance and safekeeping of overseas absentee voting records;
4. The Director IV, Personnel Department – to handle matters pertaining to personnel training;
5. The Director IV, Information Technology Department (ITD) – for proper guidance on the latest technological innovations that may be relevant in the matter of registration of voters and casting of votes;
6. The Director IV, Finance Services Department (FSD) – for a more effective management of the COAV’s financial resources; and
7. One (1) lawyer from the Law Department – to provide legal advice to the Committee relating to the Overseas Absentee Voting Law, in particular, and all other relevant laws, in general.

In addition, it is suggested that a maximum of five (5) personnel belonging to the regular office staff of the COAV Chairman be allowed to compose the secretariat of the Committee.

Respectfully submitted for consideration by the Commission en banc.

The Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to approve the foregoing proposal of Commissioner Armando C. Velasco, Chairman, Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV), to streamline the composition of the COAV by including only the following officials and personnel of the Commission as its members, with its corresponding functions:

1. The Deputy Executive Director for Operations (DEDO) – among others, to ensure that the activities and timelines of the COAV are in sync with those of the Commission as a whole. He shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the COAV;
2. The Director IV, Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) – given that among the most important functions of the COAV is the registration of overseas Filipinos;
3. The Director IV, Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) – for proper maintenance and safekeeping of overseas absentee voting records;
4. The Director IV, Personnel Department – to handle matters pertaining to personnel training;
5. The Director IV, Information Technology Department (ITD) – for proper guidance on the latest technological innovations that may be relevant in the matter of registration of voters and casting of votes;
6. The Director IV, Finance Services Department (FSD) – for a more effective management of the COAV’s financial resources; and
7. One (1) lawyer from the Law Department – to provide legal advice to the Committee relating to the Overseas Absentee Voting Law, in particular, and all other relevant laws, in general.

RESOLVED, further, that the Secretariat of the COAV be composed of a maximum of five (5) personnel from the regular office staff of the COAV Chairman to be named by him.

Let the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.