Coming in full circle, Hon. Garcia has a panoramic understanding of the COMELEC and the way the institution operates inside out: from grassroots challenges to broader policy issues that are part and parcel of election management and administration. With this, Hon. Garcia’s first year in leadership was devoted to providing the COMELEC with a blueprint that sketches the implementation of innovative policy and legislative reforms and imbeds the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in its institutional processes.
As the Chairman of an organization described as the bastion of democracy, Hon. Garcia’s transformative leadership is focused on recognizing and navigating complex institutional barriers of the COMELEC and providing feasible and transparent solutions consistent with his commitment to Constitution and the rule of law. His leadership hinges on his ability to make swift yet firm decisions that align with only the best interests of the Commission, the Filipino people, and his own sense of integrity. He recognizes that his role is built on trust and accountability, both individual and collective, within the Commission En Banc.
Hon. Garcia’s transformational practices are mapped out clearly in the blueprint of his chairmanship. In the first year of his tenure, he formulated a framework with policy and legislative reforms attuned with the current developmental needs for a thriving democracy. The template for Hon. Garcia’s framework is designed to endure any interest except the will of the Filipinos. In line with this, Hon. Garcia pursued the codification of all the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code with all other election laws and guidelines into a Revised Code of the COMELEC to ensure stability in the processes of the COMELEC despite changes in its administration.
The structural and management reforms introduced by Hon. Garcia set out the implementation of data-driven and measurable improvements to elevate the performance and efficiency of the Commission. Currently, the COMELEC implements an overall high-impact operations in the conduct of elections and democratic exercises. In the age of information, Hon. Garcia prioritized the integration of science and technology in its operations to materialize an impactful and accessible voting and registration processes to all qualified Filipino voters, including those abroad.
In demonstrating Hon. Garcia’s belief in the power of voter education, he continued to harness the expertise of the Education and Information Department (EID) to amplify the impact of the COMELEC information drive and voter education campaigns in the pursuit of an informed and engaged electorate. In his daily series of interviews, Hon. Garcia is in the front line of providing timely updates on the latest electoral rules, disseminating information about the innovative strides of COMELEC, and addressing pressing questions from the public with utmost transparency. Recognizing the potential pitfalls of misinformation, he takes it upon himself to clarify intricate areas of election law that might be vulnerable to confusion or misinterpretation.
Moreover, Hon. Garcia’s blueprint sketched out avenues to foster an environment of open dialogue and deliberation and to harness the collective resources of the EID.
ATTY. GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Hon. Garcia champions not only the mechanisms of governance but also the profound responsibility of nurturing an electorate empowered by knowledge. His commitment to education radiates through each interaction, reminding the nation that the future lies in the hands of those who are informed, engaged, and steadfast in their pursuit of a brighter collective destiny.
He firmly believes that the act of casting a vote transcends mere participation; it embodies a collective responsibility to make informed decisions that shape the trajectory of the nation.
