The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Palawan will launch a massive political education campaign in preparation for the 2019 midterm elections, Fr. Jasper Lahan, its provincial chair said.
“Ang babaguhin namin sa aming approach ngayon ay magki-create talaga ng localize na political education na kung saan ay maipapakita sa kanila kung ano nga ba ang gobyerno, ano nga ba ‘yong kaakibat nito, financially… Iyan ‘yong pinag-aaralan namin na presentation ngayon para ‘di sila maging padalus-dalos, na makita nila ang reality na ganito pala sa buhay pag-go-gobyerno,” Lahan stressed
(What we are going to change in our approach now will really create a localized political education campaign where we will show to the people what the government is really about, what it entails, financially… It’s what we’re studying to present so they won’t be careless, for them to see that this is the reality in government life.)
He said that their campaign will focus in far-flung locations of the province, especially those identified as “hotspot areas or under the election watchlist areas (EWAS).
“We will make them understand politics and how it works,” he said.
The distance of these areas make it harder to lift up the mental capacity of the residents to decide wisely, Lahan also said.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabi na hindi maganda, kung hindi dahil sa lack of opportunity sa lugar na ‘yon dahil na rin sa layo kaya nagiging mahirap i-uplift ang kanilang mental capacity kung saan sila ay makapagdesisyon ng tama much more if played by poverty na kung saan ang mga tao ay halos kumakapit na sa patalim,” he pointed out.
(We’re not saying that they are not making the right kind of decision, what we’re saying there are some who lack the opportunity to uplift their mental capacity to choose better because they are far and because they are played by poverty where they need to depend to risk to live better lives.)
Lahan cited receiving reports of cases of bribery in the form giving of goods.
“All we want is to have a clean, honest, accurate and meaningful election,” he added.
He said the PPCRV needs volunteers to help in raising public awareness on their right to vote.
Lahan added the public should elect candidates who are courageous and “changemakers” and who will prioritize the interest of the masses.
