NDI - Philippines

NDI Mourns the Death of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino

fgalleto — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:54:03 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/04/2009

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	85.21 KB

More Work Needed to Develop Public Trust in New Philippine Automated Voting System, NDI Delegation Says

fgalleto — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:27:02 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/15/2010

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Media Type:

PDF

2010

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	26.32 KB

Aquino Pulls Ahead in Philippine Presidential Race | May 4, 2010

fgalleto — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:19:51 +0000

TIME | Link to story »

"Election-monitoring groups have raised concerns about practically every aspect of the process. When a delegation from the Washington-based National Democratic Institute met with some of these groups in Manila in March, it found a 'high degree of anxiety and lack of confidence' in the automated system.

"'Certainly, a project of this scale would be a complicated exercise even for a developed country like the U.S. to pull off,' says Pete Troilo, a Manila-based business-risk consultant at Pacific Strategies and Assessments."

Link to story »

New Voting Machines Stoke Filipinos' Fears | April 13, 2010

fgalleto — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:57:38 +0000

The New York Times | Link to story »

"On May 10, for the first time, Filipinos will choose their local and national leaders through a totally automated election system. The intent is to usher in a new era of politics free of ballot tampering," The New York Times reports. The article cites NDI's pre-election delegation, which detailed concerns about the new automated system.

Link to story »

New Voting Machines Stoke Filipinos’ Fears | April 13, 2010

rrunyan — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:01:08 +0000

New York Times | Link to story »

“On May 10, for the first time, Filipinos will choose their local and national leaders through a totally automated election system. The intent is to usher in a new era of politics free of ballot tampering.

The National Democratic Institute, which sent a mission to Manila last month to study preparations for automation, said that the elections commission had not yet released clear guidelines for conducting a random manual audit to check the automated results, which is 'central to ensuring the integrity of the vote tabulation.'”

Link to story »

International Election Monitor Raises Concerns over Philippine Balloting | March 13, 2010

fgalleto — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:33:36 +0000

Gulf News| Link to story »

"An international election monitor has raised concerns over the Philippines' first nationwide automated election and recommended early preparations in case of a system breakdown during the May 10 balloting.

"The US-based National Democratic Institute said in a statement on Saturday that the Commission on Elections should make a major effort to boost public confidence in the new system which promises to speed up the counting of votes."

Link to story »

More stories about NDI's pre-election delegation and statement to the Philippines:

Confidence-building in elections, Inquirer.net
8 Steps to Credible RP Polls, According to Foreign Observers, ABS- CBN News
Election Monitor Concerned over Philippine Polls, Philippine Star
Local, International Groups Wary over Comelec's Lack of Contingency Plan, GMA News
Foreign Observers Say RP Vote Lacks Transparency, Inquirer
Vote Lacks Transparency?, Straits Times
Automated Poll Review Worries International Delegates, Manila Bulletin
Philippine Poll Officials Urged to be Transparent, The Peninsula

More Work Needed to Develop Public Trust in New Philippine Automated Voting System, NDI Delegation Says

rrunyan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:52:54 +0000

Concerted efforts will be needed to develop public trust in the Philippines’ first automated election to be held May 10, according to the findings of an international pre-election delegation organized by NDI.

“While progress has been made in many areas, concerns remain as to the efficacy of the election preparations and the lack of dialogue between those administering the process and civil society groups committed to effectively monitoring it,” the delegation said in a statement released at a news conference in Manila on Saturday.

MANILA – Concerted efforts will be needed to develop public trust in the Philippines’ first automated election to be held May 10, according to the findings of an international pre-election delegation organized by NDI.

The delegation included Sam Gejdenson, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives; Nora Owen, former minister for justice, equality and law reform of Ireland; Sue Wood, former president of the New Zealand National Party; Jamie Metzl, executive vice president of the Asia Society; and Thomas V. Barry, NDI deputy regional director for Asia.

The group visited the Philippines from March 6-13. It reviewed the political environment and framework for the upcoming elections for president, vice president, House of Representatives, Senate, and a range of provincial, municipal, and local offices. During the visit it met with government and electoral officials, leaders of political parties, civic and human rights associations, representatives of the news media and international organizations.

The delegation noted that while automation of the national election process has been under consideration for many years in the Philippines, the May 10 balloting will be the first time machines will be used to count ballots and aggregate and transmit results nationwide.
“Suspicions and lack of trust among the political competitors and toward authorities, combined with insufficient inclusiveness and transparency, have inhibited public confidence in the elections and generated anxiety about the automated election system,” the delegation said.

“There is still time for all participants to take appropriate steps to achieve democratic elections in May, but concerted efforts are required to increase transparency, build in needed safeguards, heighten security and develop public trust in the process,” it continued.

The delegation offered a series of recommendations that it hoped would be helpful in promoting inclusive, transparent and credible elections. They included urging:

The Commission on Elections to undertake a major effort to bolster public confidence in the automated system and the impartiality of its decisions;

That random manual audits should be undertaken using a large enough sample of electronic voting machines to assure public confidence in the automated system at the national level;

The armed forces of the Philippines and the Philippines National Police to do all they can to support the integrity of the electoral process and the sanctity of the ballot, as well as bolster the safety of members of the news media;

Robust and widespread public participation in nonpartisan citizen monitoring of elections;

The government of the Philippines to mobilize all of its resources to educate the public about balloting procedures and the new automated system; and

The election commission to make available on the Internet and in other forms the information currently available on campaign expenditures before the election.

The work of the delegation was based on the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, launched at the United Nations in 2005 and endorsed by NDI and 35 other international and intergovernmental organizations.

A copy of the full statement can be found here.

Pictured Above: The NDI delegation explains its findings at a press conference in Manila.

Published on March 13, 2010

NDI Condemns Political Massacre in the Philippines

fgalleto — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:04:36 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

11/25/2009

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Media Type:

PDF

2009

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	18.48 KB

NDI Mourns the Death of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino

rrunyan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:21:30 +0000

NDI expresses its condolences to family, friends and supporters of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who died Aug. 1.

Described by NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright as a trailblazer with courage and charisma, Aquino received the NDI W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award in 2004, some 18 years after she was elected to the presidency as part of a “people power” movement that swept dictator Ferdinand Marcos from office.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) expresses its condolences to family, friends and supporters of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who died Aug. 1.

In accepting NDI’s award, Aquino said, “For my countrymen, as for Americans, the root of people power may be found in the conviction expressed by the preamble of most democratic constitutions: ‘We the people…’ These words are a reminder from the sovereign people that their consent to be governed is not an abdication of further responsibility for their political fate. Those words should remind governments where power originates and where, if they are not careful, it may return again….For me, [people power] has seemed nothing more than the voice of decency in the mouths of the brave.”

Aquino described herself as a “plain housewife” before entering politics after the assassination of her husband, Benigno Aquino, in 1983 upon his return to the Philippines from exile. When Marcos called snap elections in 1986, she was drafted to run by opposition forces and scored a resounding victory.

“Corazon Aquino entered the race and electrified the nation,” Albright said at NDI’s 2004 awards ceremony. “While in office, President Aquino established a proud legacy—of constitutional reform, sound economic leadership and support for the rule of law. When her term expired, she turned power over to her duly elected successor, signaling her understanding that—in building democracy—the first free election is important, but it is the second that often matters most.”

“NDI mourns President Aquino’s passing,” said NDI President Kenneth Wollack. “We join her many admirers around the world in celebrating her life and honoring her legacy.”

Pictured above: Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino accepts the NDI W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award from NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright in 2004.

–

Published on August 4, 2009

Philippines

ggreene — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:46:19 +0000

Although many have considered the Philippines to be a country with strong democratic values, corruption and a lack of transparency continue to undermine democratic development, particularly in the Muslim region in Mindanao. Elections, in particular, have become an opportunity for elite clans to entrench themselves in power and government has failed to meet citizens’ needs. These weaknesses in the political situation are exacerbated by a lack of citizen participation and a lack of women’s representation in all levels of government.

Subscribe to updates about Philippines

Political Situation

The country continues to face considerable challenges in bringing peace and stability to Muslim Mindanao. The region's internal conflicts are rooted in sectarian strife as well as clashes with separatist groups, and to date, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have yet to forge a peace agreement. Within local communities, broader peace and order concerns are exacerbated by widespread crime and local disputes over access to natural resources. Tensions between civilians and the uniformed services remain high, and there is a broad public perception that government lacks oversight of law enforcement. These issues undermine democratic governance and peace efforts initiated in the communities.

Participatory Dialogue on Political Reforms

Since August 2006 NDI has implemented a program to promote informed and participatory dialogue on political reforms and proposed constitutional change. The Institute works with civil society partners to organize public forums covering key reform issues, and ensures that the forum is conducted in a balanced and moderated format. The program also sought to support independent media networks to monitor processes related to these reforms.

In advance of the NDI October 2007 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections, NDI conducted a program to promote informed discussion at the grassroots level – in strategic provinces outside of the capital. NDI facilitated discussions among parties and civil society on critical political reform issues in central and southern Luzon, areas that represent nearly 20 percent of the electorate, as well as Visayas and Mindanao. These discussions were organized by university groups and youth coalitions interested in political reform. Since the October elections, the youth network has worked to engage newly elected representatives in discussions to follow-up on and advocate for promises made during the campaign.

Women’s Participation in Local Elections in Muslim Mindanao

Building on NDI’s past programs to enhance women’s political participation in the Philippines, NDI is working to enhance the capacity of women candidates and leaders in advance of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM or Mindanao) regional elections in August 2008. Specifically, NDI seeks to facilitate the development of a women’s advocacy agenda for increasing women’s political participation, improve the responsiveness of local government to women’s concerns, and enhance the capacity of the Political Caucus of Women’s Leaders in Mindanao (PCWLM).

Past Activities

Women’s Participation

In 2007, NDI conducted a six-month program to help women candidates running for the first time prepare for the October 2007 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections. NDI’s program combined leadership and campaign skills training with instruction on electoral rules and procedures. Training was provided to 135 women in the mainland and island provinces of Muslim Mindanao. Youth leaders were also trained to organize citizen efforts that promoted informed decision making during the elections by engaging candidates in public forums and linking the outcome of the elections to the well-being of the citizens.

This program built on a regional program on Strengthening Women Leaders in Southeast Asia which trained twenty women trainers from the Muslim region on various political and campaigning skills. In turn, these core trainers trained 1,475 women locally. The core trainers also organized the Political Caucus of Women Leaders in Mindanao.

Community Policing

In October 2003, NDI initiated a program to help promote democratic governance and enhance community-police relations in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Institute worked with ARMM municipalities to increase local capacity in addressing community safety problems in the municipalities of North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Barira, and Guindulungan involving over 100 barangays.

NDI worked with civilian administrators and officials at the local level to develop replicable community policing models. NDI guided the formation of local citizen-police working groups on education initiatives and capacity-building trainings to help communities and police address local peace and order problems. The Institute, collaborated with national and regional offices of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help replicate community policing practices in ARMM, increase public access to information on key policies related to civilian oversight of law enforcement and improve the administration of peace and order mechanisms. This work involved developing and strengthening links between grassroots organizations and policy-making bodies at the regional and local levels on issues of peace and order, conflict resolution, and crime prevention.

Funding

NDI's programs in the Philippines have been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, DC
Brian Vogt, Senior Program Officer
(202) 728-5442

Subscribe to updates about the Philippines

NDI 2005 Annual Report

vrao — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/01/2005

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	6.23 MB

Changing the Face of Politics: Women in Politics

vrao — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/01/2007

Resource Type:

Brochure

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Download the brochure	543.39 KB

Young Advocates for Peace Camp

vrao — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:33:52 +0000

In spite of a tense situation in the Philippines triggered by midterm national and local elections, the 2007 Young Advocates for Peace (YAP) Camp on May 20-30 gathered 71 youth leaders representing indigenous peoples, youth councils, school and out-of-school youth, and children of former combatants from the six political regions of Mindanao, the southern portion of the country. The 11-day camp is a continuing effort of the Kids for Peace Foundation, which also spearheaded last year’s YAP Camp in partnership with the Notre Dame University – Community Extension Services, Mindanao Young Women Leader’s Forum and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

The initiation of Young Advocates for Peace started with the question “What if we involve the future of Mindanao themselves and prepare them to take on the leadership roles in the future and inspire them with ideas of peace and multiculturalism?”

The graduates of last year’s YAP camp initiated various peace projects, including:

peace-lantern making;
documenting positive stories on peace and multiculturalism in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao;
‘culture of peace’ workshops using the arts for young community leaders;
strategic planning and team building;
youth-leadership trainings and team-building workshops for students running for elective posts in their respective schools;
message development on how to organize elections in Isabela City entitled “My Voice, My Vote, My Basilan”and
voter education with the out-of-school youth in Pansacala, Cotabato.

The young leaders caught the attention of other organizations, which invited the 2006 camp attendees to peace journalism workshops and peace videoconferences supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Their stories also inspired other organizations to start their own youth programs or to strengthen their organizations, such as Makilala Youth Advocates for Development (MYAD). Four months after the 2006 Camp, the young peace advocates won one of three grants of the British Council Philippines for their Hatag Kalinaw Grants Competition.

The new batch of campers was inspired by the stories and experiences of last year’s young leaders, and looks forward to implementing its own peace projects. Campers want to influence more young people to gain confidence as leaders, to believe in themselves, and to believe in what they can do for Mindanao. The young peace advocates called the YAP camp unique, saying it accepted and trusted them and offered a chance to lead with dignity while working for peace in Mindanao.

The 2007 camp yielded results beyond expectations. Probe Media Foundation Inc., an NGO committed to improving the quality of media through the education and training of professional and aspiring media practitioners, requested YAP to submit a proposal to partner with the Kabataan News Network (KNN), specifically to manage the KNN bureau in Cotabato City. Independent filmmakers also committed to video documentation of YAP initiatives, and partnerships may soon develop with international organizations such as Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women-Asia Pacific.

The Camp demonstrated how young people, accepted and affirmed by their peers, can discover the value of peace and interethnic respect while building their strengths and leadership potential. In spite of their different cultural and religious backgrounds, the young leaders vowed to make a difference in their communities.

The YAP, thanks to the efforts of an array or organizations, has become a significant network of leaders advocating peace and multiculturalism in Mindanao. The shared experience of peaceful cooperation at the camp coupled with its training in leadership and project management skills has made it a step on the journey to peace both for these young leaders and for the region.

–

Published on June 18, 2007

Strengthening Women Political Leaders in Southeast Asia, Trainer

vrao — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/01/2005

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

English, Tagalog

Tagalog

Attachment	Size
Read the manual (English)	1.82 MB
Read the manual (Tagalog)	1018.31 KB

Party-on-Party Monitoring of Asia Electoral Campaigns: Taiwan; South Korea; Philippines; Indonesia

vrao — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/01/2004

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	620.32 KB

NDI - Philippines

NDI Mourns the Death of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino

More Work Needed to Develop Public Trust in New Philippine Automated Voting System, NDI Delegation Says

Aquino Pulls Ahead in Philippine Presidential Race | May 4, 2010

New Voting Machines Stoke Filipinos' Fears | April 13, 2010

New Voting Machines Stoke Filipinos’ Fears | April 13, 2010

International Election Monitor Raises Concerns over Philippine Balloting | March 13, 2010

More Work Needed to Develop Public Trust in New Philippine Automated Voting System, NDI Delegation Says

NDI Condemns Political Massacre in the Philippines

NDI Mourns the Death of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino

Philippines

Read More

Political Situation

Participatory Dialogue on Political Reforms

Women’s Participation in Local Elections in Muslim Mindanao

Past Activities

Women’s Participation

Community Policing

Funding

Contact Information

NDI 2005 Annual Report

Changing the Face of Politics: Women in Politics

Young Advocates for Peace Camp

Strengthening Women Political Leaders in Southeast Asia, Trainer

Party-on-Party Monitoring of Asia Electoral Campaigns: Taiwan; South Korea; Philippines; Indonesia