The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete is tapping different schools here for the “Tibok Pinoy” program to educate voters ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.
Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, DEB coordinator and head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) here, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that the schools help educate voters on how to choose the right candidates.
“The partnership will be between the DEB/PPCRV and these schools to bring the Tibok Pinoy voters’ empowerment program to their institutions and in their activities,” Heruela said.
The Tibok Pinoy content will be integrated and discussed primarily in the National Service Training Program (NSTP), where the enrolled students are of voting age already.
Other venues for the Tibok Pinoy content integration include classroom discussions, values education, religion subjects, and the distribution of soft and hard copies of the program materials.
The NSTP provides an avenue for tertiary students on civic consciousness, defense preparedness, and reserved officers’ training course, Heruela said.
Participating schools, colleges, and universities, represented by their student governments, include St. Paul University-Dumaguete, Silliman University, Foundation University, Colegio de Sta. Catalina de Alejandria, Metro Dumaguete College, Asian College of Science and Technology, and AMA Computer College.
The Rotaract Young Leaders Forum will also participate in the partnership signing on Wednesday at Marian Priests Center at the Dumaguete Cathedral compound.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental on Friday called on government agencies and other stakeholders to defend the country’s democracy by promoting safe, peaceful, and orderly elections in May.
“We are the guardians of democracy. Our hard work, vigilance, and integrity will ensure that every vote will reflect the true will of the people,” lawyer. Eddie Aba, Comelec provincial election supervisor, said in his message during the Unity Walk and Peace Covenant signing at the Dumaguete City National High School.
Present during the covenant signing were local candidates in the May 12 elections, officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other uniformed services, Comelec, Department of Education (DepEd), as well as church representatives and other stakeholders.
“Let us move forward with unity and a shared purpose to hold an election that is clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful,” Aba said.
By acting with integrity, Aba said those present in at the event “are putting the nation above all as we strengthen the very foundation of our democracy.”
To the candidates, he highlighted that their “leadership begins long before the ballots are cast.”
The Comelec official also urged them to be guided by truth, respect, and a genuine desire to serve, and whether they win or lose, their public service must make a lasting impact on the people.
“Elections are more than just a political exercise. They are a testament to our commitment to the democracy, integrity, and the will of the people,” Aba said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
