Gasan, Marinduque – Less than three months away from the 2019 midterm elections, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MIMAROPA’s Municipal Action Team (MAT) of Gasan held a Voter’s Education Forum with the parent leaders of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the Gasan, Marinduque on March 26, 2019.
The activity, in partnership with the Office of the Mayor, Commission on Election, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) of Gasan, Marinduque aims to create awareness and educate the partner beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya about the Voters Counting Machine, Election Ban, different campaign issues and the characteristics or quality that they should look for in choosing the right candidate. Moreover, it aims to encourage beneficiaries to become active citizens during the election period.
With the theme “Gandang Gasan, Boto ko! Kinabukasan Ko!”, the forum gathered a total of 56 Pantawid Pamilya parent leaders. The event was officially opened by the Personal Secretary of the Mayor, where he acknowledged and commended the initiative of the MAT for the activity. According to him, this would be of great help to educate the people especially the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries to choose the right candidate with such developmental agenda who will protect the interest and welfare of the critical mass and will help in the improvement of lives of the poor families.
Mr. Menandro Layag Jr., Municipal Election Officer of Gasan introduced the new sample ballot that will be used on the May 2019 election. In line with this, he also discussed every feature found in the ballot to be filled up during the actual casting of votes. In addition, he also highlighted the importance of marking the ballots properly stating: “your votes will be wasted if it cannot be read by the machine”.
Meanwhile, PO3 Jasmin Sol of PNP Gasan discussed “Oplan Sita” due to the election ban. She explained the procedure on how the PNP personnel would undertake the Oplan Sita during checkpoint. The PNP is appealing to the people to avoid or refrain from doing any violation that would lead for their apprehension.
To finish, Mr. Edgardo L. Guevara, Municipal PPCRV Coordinator discussed the quality that a leader must possess which a voter must look into. While the right choice ultimately depends on the voter’s preference, he recommended applying the assessment criteria composed of intelligence, integrity, inclusiveness and innovation. He also stressed that by evaluating candidates using each category, he hoped that voters would be able to look beyond the typical motherhood statements of candidates to find someone who is capable and truly committed to service. He later added that the impact of the choices they make extends beyond the future generations.
MAT Gasan is expecting that this activity would not only be of great help to educate our beneficiaries but as well as to achieve a clean, honest and peaceful election. At the end of the forum, the Parent Leaders and Program staff thumbs up and shout out loud “Gandang Gasan: Boto ko! Kinabukasan Ko!” in support of this advocacy campaign.
(Contributed by: Benmar Cadag)
