By Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY — The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete is gearing up for the May 13 election as a citizens’ arm duly recognized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to help achieve clean, honest, peaceful and orderly polls.
DEB convenor Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela said Monday the board’s members will convene on February 6 for a coordinating meeting to finalize plans for the mid-term elections.
The DEB played a significant role in the past elections as a citizens’ arm of the poll body.
“We are still the citizens’ arm under the Comelec. We facilitate how we can help the Comelec to ensure that the holding of the election is orderly,” Heruela said.
The DEB’s working group already met over the weekend to finalize plans and review individual and shared roles of its members.
Constituting the Diocesan Electoral Board are the Diocese of Dumaguete, headed by Bishop Julito Cortes, who sits as honorary chairman, the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the Comelec, Department of Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, Heruela said.
Also invited to be part of the DEB are representatives from other churches like the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and Aglipay, as well as student governments and groups, the two electric cooperatives (NORECO I and NORECO II) in Negros Oriental, and treasurers of local government units, he added.
Heruela also said the DEB is hoping that just like in previous elections, they would be able to “mobilize 5,000 volunteers from the different chapels in the barangays.”
He noted that another role of the DEB is to conduct voters’ education to help the people choose their candidates wisely.
Heruela said on February 11, there will be a covenant signing for a peaceful and orderly election among candidates and other election stakeholders.
