PHL keen on tapping Israel for safe polls

THE Philippine government is looking to reference the State of Israel’s expertise to ensure that the May 2022 national elections are conducted safely amid the pandemic, the latter’s embassy in Manila said.

“We had our experience in having two elections during the pandemic: one...in the beginning, [and another during its height],” Charge d’affaires (CDA) Nir Balzam told reporters in a virtual forum. “We are willing to share...information, and I think the Philippine government and authorities are interested. We’re discussing it.”

Balzam did not elaborate on the possible partnership, insofar as they are “collaborating” with Manila by sharing pointers about measures implemented when his country held its own elections.

“I think there are [a few measures the Philippines has to understand first, such as its vaccination status and eligibility of] voters,” the CDA said. “There are still some things [the country has to do prior,] but we’re collaborating on that.”

In Israel, authorities have managed to successfully hold its March 2020 and March 2021 polls by establishing a system that allowed even those in isolation to vote while maintaining health and safety measures concerning the pandemic. The Middle-eastern country set up poll booths inside hospital wards as a means for its citizens to vote, even when they were undergoing home quarantine.

In both elections, Balzam shared that Israel “did not see any increase in new cases,” which achieved the state’s objective of allowing its citizens to participate in the democratic process despite the health crisis.

As the Philippines will hold its national and local elections on May 9, 2022, the Commission on Elections is currently crafting guidelines with the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the manner of the voting process. They are expected to be released by October 1.