DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental -- The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete will convene Wednesday for a full-body coordinating meeting in preparation for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) elections this May 14.
DEB convenor Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela on Monday said the coordinating meeting will discuss the holding/signing of peace covenants by aspirants and other agencies involved in the elections amid time limitations.
These agencies include the DEB, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Department of Education (DepED), among others.
The peace covenants will be held individually in the different towns and cities of the province, he said.
City election officer, lawyer Gildu Agoncillo, will lead the peace covenant signing, with Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes as the invited guest speaker.
Heruela said the DEB is trying to mobilize its volunteers in the different parishes to help out in the conduct of peaceful, clean, honest and orderly elections.
He, however, admitted that it might be difficult to get the same number of volunteers during the previous national polls because this time, the election is at the local level and people have the tendency to side with family members, relatives, and/or friends who are running for a position.
“We will be online as well for our observations, follow-up monitoring, so it will lessen mobility and the use of paper,” the priest said.
Heruela further said the Comelec has asked the DEB for its help to ensure successful, honest and peaceful and orderly elections.
“We received communication from the Comelec asking us (DEB) to help them in the peace covenant signing and that is why we are coordinating this in the different towns through the parishes,” he said.
Heruela said the DEB has received instructions and guidelines from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) for the conduct of next month’s barangay and SK polls. (PNA)
