Poll watchdog intensifies voters' education campaign
February 19, 2010 11:25 am
COTABATO CITY, Feb. 19 — The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has intensified its education drive to educate the voters on the automated elections.
Ambassador Henrieta de Villa, PPCRV national chairperson, has been hoping from one province to another, meeting with local partners with the hope of helping the electorate come up with right decision as to who to vote in the May 2010 national and elections.
"We are using automation and it is very important to educate our voters," de Villa said of the PPCRV's efforts to help voters make the right decision.
While claiming the Philippine electorate has already increased its level of awareness as far as elections are concerned, a lot of things have to be done.
"We are calling for independent, responsible and credible volunteers who will help us in our quest for a credible and honest national and local elections," de Villa said in an interview over Church-run Radio DXMS here.
"We do not want volunteers who are affiliated with any political party or candidates or interest groups…we want people who dream of having a peaceful and credible elections in the country," she said in a radio interview.
PPCRV, the lone accredited poll watchdog by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is fielding volunteers to focus as well on voter behavior rather than fraudsters.
She said the volunteers will explain to the voters how to fill up the ballots and use the electronic voting machine.
"We are focused now on educating the voters on the operation and characteristics of PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scanner)," she said.
De Villa also said that the volunteers will be sent out to campaign against vote-buying and intimidation which the automated election system cannot solve.
With the slogan "Boto ko, dangal ko, ipagtatanggol ko!" the PPCRV is hoping to fully educate the electorate on the new technology in electoral process, de Villa said. (PNA)
FFC/NYP/EOF
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