IFES has given a grant to the Consortium on Electoral Reforms (CER)/ Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER) conduct long-term election monitoring for 2010, entitled Bantay-Eleksyon 2010 (People’s Coalition to Monitor the 2010 Elections) that covers the entire election process—pre-election preparations and activities, campaign period, election day, counting and canvassing, and proclamation of election results.

The project places particular emphasis on the implementation of electoral automation and monitor the performance of electoral management and electoral parties. Bantay Eleksyon strives to expose electoral irregularities and intervene as appropriate, reporting and representing cases to electoral authorities to assess the credibility and conduct of the 2010 elections.

Bantay Eleksyon covers all regions in the country, but concentrates on select cities and towns in ten regions considered to be critical in the national elections: Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northeastern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

CER/IPER issues regular public information briefs, a preliminary statement on the 2010 elections on Election Day, and a final statement and assessment at the end of the election period. Aside from these reports, monitors will also provide the corresponding COMELEC official in charge at every level with reports on violations of election laws. The final report on the conduct of the 2010 elections will be presented in a national conference with regional stakeholders participating through a simultaneous video conference. While election monitoring will be done independently, every effort will be made to work with the COMELEC and coordinate internal monitoring efforts.