PH releases accreditation guide for news media and poll observers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Guidelines for accreditation of mass media and domestic and international observers/monitors for the Philippines’ May 9, 2022 national and local elections have been issued by the Commission on Elections.

The deadline for filing applications for accreditation to COMELEC is on 11 March 2022. Applications filed after 11 March 2022 and/or with incomplete requirements will not be entertained. Interested parties requesting accreditation need to submit the following:

Media Parties:

1. A fully accomplished COMELEC Media Accreditation Form (CMAF);
2. Two (2) recent 1.5″x 1.5″ colored photographs; and, where applicable, an endorsement from the publisher, editor-in-chief, assignment editor, station manager, or similar officer of the newspaper, television station, radio station, or online publication employing the applicant;
3. An endorsement from the appropriate officer of the broadcast entity or film distributor which has committed to air/distribute the work; and
4. In the case of freelancers, a valid assignment letter from the bona fide media organization for which the freelancer is on assignment.

Applications for Media parties are to be submitted online to COMELEC via this link – https://bit.ly/2022NLEForeignMedia

Observers/Monitors

1. Duly accomplished application form for accreditation;
2. Two (2) recent 1.5″ x 1.5″ colored photographs of the applicant;
3. If foreigner or foreign group, organization, committee or association organization, endorsement issued by the ambassador or consul of the applicant’s home country; and
4. Terms of Reference or similar document, explaining the purposes of the election observation mission.

Applications for Observer parties are to be submitted online to COMELEC via this link – https://bit.ly/DomesticMonitorObserver

For more information, check COMELEC Resolution No. 10739 and 10740.