Operation MODEX ^*

      Operation MODEX, which stands for Modernization and Excellence, was the code name given to the project that was conceptualized in a Strategic Planning Seminar that was held in 1992, immediately after the May 11, 1992 Synchronized National and Local Elections, where Fidel V. Ramos was elected President of the Republic of the Philippines. This seminar was attended by all COMELEC key officials, from the Chairman and Commissioners, down to the main office department directors and field offices regional directors. This project was conceptualized during the leadership of former Chairman Christian S. Monsod (June 1991 - February 1995).

      The sessions started by defining the Commission's VISION of the COMELEC in the future:

An independent, constitutional body capable of giving substance and meaning, through the electoral process, to the democratic principle that sovereignty resides in the people and all government athority emanates from them

From this flowed the Commission's MISSION:

To ensure the continuing development of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible electoral processes

      Thus was conceived COMELEC's six-year modernization program, from 1992 to 1998, codenamed Operation MODEX, consisting of eight (8) key components:

1. The formulation, together with congress, of a FLEXIBLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK that will allow the Commission to operate on a broad constitutional base;
   
   
2. The SYSTEMATIZATION OF THE PRESENT METHOD OF REGISTRATION towards the creation of a clean, complete, permanent and updated national list of voters;
   
   
3. The MODERNIZATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS from the voting to proclamation to reduce the risk of human error or fraud and speed up the process of arriving at and releasing election results;
   
   
4. The conduct of a CONTINUING ELECTION EDUCATION CAMPAIGN to improve the quality of a citizen involvement in the electoral processes, ensure the election of quality leaders and set in motion a system for periodic assessment of their performance;
   
   
5. The design and operationalization of a MANAGEMENT INFORMATION or information technology SYSTEM to establish an election data bank and thereby facilitate decision-making;
   
   
6. The UPGRADING OF FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT to ensure the speedy delivery of services;
   
   
7. The DECENTRALIZATION of certain functions being performed by the central office to the different regional offices, and the REORGANIZATION of the Commission's structure for efficient delivery of services; and
   
   
8. The DEVELOPMENT AND MOTIVATION OF COMELEC PERSONNEL to professionalize the existing manposer corps, attract competent professionals and develop a corporate culture of competence and integrity.