12/10/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค-๐ญ๐จ-๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Intramuros, Manila โ The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), under the leadership of Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and the Commission En Banc, is set to mark a significant milestone in Philippine electoral diplomacy as it prepares to assume the Chairmanship of two (2) international organizations of election management bodies this year, namely: the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA).
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.
In a historic first, the Philippines will simultaneously take on the leadership of both organizations, placing COMELEC at the forefront of global and regional cooperation in electoral administration.
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 COMELEC from October 12 to 18, 2026, at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City, Philippines.
The simultaneous Philippine Chairmanship 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 COMELEC through the stewardship of Chairman 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, โTechnology, Trust and the Voter: Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Age of AIโ. 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 October 15, 2026. Meanwhile, the AAEA General Assembly will be on October 17, 2026.
A key highlight of the gatherings will be the presentation of the โManila Declarationโ, 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.
It should be noted that the Philippines through the Commission on Elections, represented by Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, was elected Vice-Chairperson of AAEA in its General Assembly on September 11, 2024 held in Taipei City, Taiwan and of A-WEB in its 6th General Assembly on October 23, 2024 held in Bogotta, Columbia. Both organizations congregate every two years to elect their Vice-Chairperson which will then be the upcoming Chairperson in the next assembly.
Through the simultaneous Chairmanship of A-WEB and AAEA, COMELEC seeks to strengthen the Philippinesโ role in fostering international electoral cooperation and advancing shared commitments to credible, transparent, and inclusive elections.
