Comelec launches data privacy handbook

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched its first data privacy handbook at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday to strengthen the protection of voters’ information.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the data privacy handbook aims to ensure that every employee is guided on handling the information in the commission.

"Para ma-emphasize sa lahat ng manggagawa ng Commission on Elections na dapat pahalagahan ang data privacy lalo pa pinagkatiwalaan tayo ng halos 7M na kababayan natin ng kanilang iba't ibang datos lalo na kapag nagpapa-rehistro sila," Garcia told reporters.

(This is to emphasize to all Commission on Elections employees the importance of data privacy, especially since nearly 7 million Filipinos have entrusted the agency with their personal information, particularly during voter registration.)

"So ibig sabihin dapat iniingatan namin yan, pinoprotektahan niyan at the same time hindi dapat ito nagagamit sa kung saan-saan lamang," he added.

(This means we should protect their data and ensure that it is not used for just anything.)

The data privacy handbook will be distributed to all Comelec offices.

Database

Garcia shared that the creation of the data privacy handbook stemmed from the incident in 2016, where Comelec's database was hacked, resulting in the leak of registered Filipino voters’ personal information.

Currently, the poll body is working on getting the approval of the Department of Information and Communications Technology as it plans to open the Precint Finder website for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

"Meron tayong muli Precint Finder (for BARMM elections na io-open) dalawang linggo bago tayo mag election bagama't ang Comelec mag didistribute na ng Voters Information Sheet," Garcia said.

(We will once again have a Precinct Finder for the BARMM elections, which will be made available two weeks before Election Day, although Comelec will already be distributing Voter Information Sheet.)

On Monday, Garcia said the poll body is closely monitoring flood-prone schools that will serve as polling sites for the BARMM elections amid concerns that heavy rains could disrupt voting. —VAL, GMA News