by ROLLY T. CARANDANG (Manila Bulletin)
http://mb.com.ph/articles/244321/educate-poor-election-automation-villar-urgesNacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar expressed deep concern about the May 10, 2010 automated elections Friday following survey results showing the poor sector, which comprises at least 30 percent of the voting population, has no knowledge at all of the poll automation.
To address his doubts, Villar called on the Commission on Elections to prioritize the poor in its information drive on poll automation, stressing that they are easily intimidated by the new technology.
Unlike other sectors, Villar said, the poor belonging to the D and E classes of society generally have less access to digital know-how and capacity to learn overnight the new voting system.
Villar’s appeal was prompted by the latest survey of Pulse Asia showing the number of Filipinos uninformed about automation is still the largest in socio-economic class E (very poor), where three out of 10 respondents said they have no knowledge at all about the automated election.
Government data showed that the poor sector comprises at least 30 percent of the country’s voting population.
The estimate was derived from most recent government poverty data showing 33 out of 100 Filipinos are poor.
“Ang pangamba ko talaga ay para sa mahihirap nating mga kababayan na karamihan sa kanila ay hindi nakakadalo sa mga briefings ng Comelec at iba pang grupo upang turuan ang mga botante sa paggamit ng voting machines at iba pang procedures,” Villar said. (“My real apprehension is that the poor is not properly informed because they were not briefed by the Comelec about how to use voting machines and other procedures.”)
He said Comelec must be aware that before the poor worries about how poll automation works they have to worry first where to get food, and this will be a big challenge for the poll body.
“With the May 10 balloting barely three months away, what will happen to these voters who are still at a loss about the automated election procedures?” Villar said.
Villar said while the poll body conducts demonstrations on the poll machine, it must look for other means to reach out to the poor. He suggested mass dissemination of illustrated leaflets and easy-to-understand reading materials on automated balloting
To address his doubts, Villar called on the Commission on Elections to prioritize the poor in its information drive on poll automation, stressing that they are easily intimidated by the new technology.
Unlike other sectors, Villar said, the poor belonging to the D and E classes of society generally have less access to digital know-how and capacity to learn overnight the new voting system.
Villar’s appeal was prompted by the latest survey of Pulse Asia showing the number of Filipinos uninformed about automation is still the largest in socio-economic class E (very poor), where three out of 10 respondents said they have no knowledge at all about the automated election.
Government data showed that the poor sector comprises at least 30 percent of the country’s voting population.
The estimate was derived from most recent government poverty data showing 33 out of 100 Filipinos are poor.
“Ang pangamba ko talaga ay para sa mahihirap nating mga kababayan na karamihan sa kanila ay hindi nakakadalo sa mga briefings ng Comelec at iba pang grupo upang turuan ang mga botante sa paggamit ng voting machines at iba pang procedures,” Villar said. (“My real apprehension is that the poor is not properly informed because they were not briefed by the Comelec about how to use voting machines and other procedures.”)
He said Comelec must be aware that before the poor worries about how poll automation works they have to worry first where to get food, and this will be a big challenge for the poll body.
“With the May 10 balloting barely three months away, what will happen to these voters who are still at a loss about the automated election procedures?” Villar said.
Villar said while the poll body conducts demonstrations on the poll machine, it must look for other means to reach out to the poor. He suggested mass dissemination of illustrated leaflets and easy-to-understand reading materials on automated balloting
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