Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets on Thursday (May 15) with delegates from the European Union (EU) to discuss the joint initiatives of the Department and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in ensuring a more seamless, inclusive, and empowering electoral process for vulnerable groups.

The EU team, led by Legal Analyst Mercer Castells Vicente, lauded the government’s call to establish early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant mothers, citing it as one of the best practices of the May 12 midterm elections.

Secretary Gatchalian, alongside Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and Asst. Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the DSWD’s International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (IASAs), also briefed the EU executives on the recently-signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) of the DSWD, the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA), and the COMELEC.

The tripartite agreement is part of the DSWD’s broader efforts to elevate the voting experience of senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and dismantle barriers that hinder the full exercise of their right to suffrage.

Those present from the EU team were Media Analyst Ivan Godarsky, Legal Analyst Assistant Mark Roland Romas, and Media Analyst Assistant David Baquiran. They form part of the 11-member core team deployed by the European Union to observe the May 12 National and Local Midterm Elections. (LSJ)