By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting is calling on volunteers to assist
voters, particularly millennials who are voting for the first time in the
synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
As a duly accredited arm of
the Commission on Elections (Comelec), PPCRV-Ilocos Norte’s Francisco Bitagon
said Monday have already started the conduct of orientation to at least 75
volunteers who will serve as watchers in the upcoming elections.
In support for “clean,
honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections”, Mr. Bitagon appealed to
the Comelec and all concerned government authorities to respect PPCRV watchers.
But since the May 14
elections will be conducted manually, Mr. Bitagon said the PPCRV will focus on
assisting millennials this time.
To do so, Mr. Bitagon
reiterated that election officials should equally respect assigned PPCRV
watchers in the different precincts as the other watchers of candidates.
“We are your collaborators,
we are your partners in electoral rights so you must give chance to our
volunteers. They are there to watch. Treat them as your collaborators,” said Mr.
Bitagon citing that during the previous elections, some PPCRV watchers were
allegedly ignored.
Meanwhile, the PPCRV also
reiterated the provision of priority lanes for persons with disabilities
(PWDs), senior citizens and pregnant women as they observed that in the past,
some precincts in the province had no special lanes for them.
“Please put priority lanes
for PWDs, seniors and pregnant women. It is their right. Wait till you become a
senior,” Mr. Bitagon stressed.
In Ilocos Norte, the Comelec
reported there will be 368 voting centers covering 559 Barangays.
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