The Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) has put in place different policies to overcome many challenges amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday.

The members of the AAEA, in its virtual 2019 Executive Board Meeting co-chaired by Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Marlon Casquejo on Oct. 1, also unanimously agreed to retain the AAEA chairmanship to the Philippines until 2021.

Abas said the gathering of AAEA was a good indication of the resilience and strength of democracies and a good opportunity for member-countries to share their experiences in the midst of challenges.

“The meeting was a great opportunity for each of the member-countries to share their experiences in their respective environments, the different challenges encountered and, more importantly, the different policies that were put in place in order to meet and overcome those challenges,” he said in a statement.

He said valuable visions and inputs shared by AAEA members would be critical in promoting credible, honest, and transparent elections as the Philippines prepares for the 2022 national elections despite the pandemic.

“The Comelec has always been keen to adopt measures placed by other election management bodies in their respective countries so that we may further improve and strengthen our own democratic and electoral exercises in the country,” he added.

Founded in February 1998 in Manila, the AAEA consists of election management bodies in the Asian and Australasian regions.

The AAEA’s mission is “provide a nonpartisan forum in Asia for the exchange of information among election authorities to discuss and act upon ways to promote open and transparent elections with the objective of supporting good governance and democracy.” (PNA)