By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to mark a significant milestone in Philippine electoral diplomacy as it prepares to assume the chairship of two international organizations of election management bodies in 2026.
In a statement Monday, the poll body said it is set to head the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) this year, which is a historic first, as the country will simultaneously take on the leadership of both organizations, placing the Comelec at the forefront of global and regional cooperation in electoral administration.
A-WEB is a global association of election management bodies, while AAEA brings together election authorities across Asia. Both organizations promote international cooperation, knowledge sharing, institutional capacity-building and the advancement of credible, transparent and inclusive elections.
The formal transition of leadership will take place during the respective General Assemblies and Chairmanship Turnover Ceremonies of A-WEB and AAEA, as part of the international gatherings hosted by the poll body, set from Oct. 12 to 18, at the Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City.
This simultaneous chairship is expected to provide new opportunities for Comelec to strengthen partnerships with its international counterparts, facilitate the exchange of electoral expertise, and contribute to collaborative efforts addressing emerging challenges in election administration.
As the incoming chair of both organizations, the Commission through the stewardship of chairperson George Erwin Garcia will lead efforts to advance cooperation among member election management bodies, particularly in areas involving electoral integrity, technological innovation, cybersecurity, misinformation and disinformation, transparent and inclusive electoral processes.
The international gatherings will feature an Executive Board Meeting, General Assembly Meetings, and a collaborative A-WEB x AAEA International Conference with the theme, “Technology, Trust and the Voter: Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Age of AI”. This International Conference will serve as a platform for member election management bodies of both international organizations to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange knowledge and best practices, and share perspectives on contemporary issues in electoral administration.
The A-WEB x AAEA International Conference and the A-WEB General Assembly will simultaneously take place on Oct. 15. Meanwhile, the AAEA General Assembly will be on Oct. 17.
A key highlight of the gatherings will be the presentation of the “Manila Declaration”, envisioned as a collective expression of shared principles and commitments among participating election management bodies toward strengthening electoral integrity and international cooperation. The Declaration is intended for formal adoption and ceremonial signing by authorized representatives of the participating election management bodies.
The Philippines, through the Commission on Elections, represented by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, was elected vice chairperson of AAEA in its General Assembly on Sept. 11, 2024 held in Taipei, Taiwan and of A-WEB in its 6th General Assembly on Oct. 23, 2024 held in Bogota, Colombia.
Both organizations congregate every two years to elect their vice chairperson, which will then be the upcoming chairperson in the next assembly.
