By Christine Cudis/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Even with only half the number of volunteers in the 2016 presidential polls, an official of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) expressed confidence on Wednesday that the volunteers could encode and validate the votes in the May 13 mid-term elections.
“Truthfully, ang complex ng ecosystem ng election. We have 87,000 precincts, 81 provinces, 37,000 municipalities — but ready, we are ready,” PPCRV chair Myla Villanueva said in an interview on the sidelines of the launching of the group’s command center in Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in UN Avenue, Manila.
Poll watching is only one of PPCRV’s legal mandates. In 2010, the group has deployed at least half a million volunteers nationwide — the number grew by 100,000 more in 2016. The PPRCV has managed to mobilize around 300,000 volunteers for this year’s elections.
The volunteers will conduct field reports on election day, send a fourth copy of the election returns which will then be encoded and validated by another group of volunteers stationed at the command center.
From February to March 2019, the PPCRV has completed another mandate of educating the voters after conducting an awareness drive in the 80 dioceses nationwide.
The PPCRV is also mandated to provide an unofficial parallel count with the help of AMA’s donation of 100 computers for the volunteers to use.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Marlon Casquejo also graced the ceremonial opening of the center to express his support and gratitude to PPCRV.
“Since I was commissioner in 2004, PPCRV has proved to be a good partner of the Comelec in making the elections meaningful and successful,” he said in his speech during the launch.
Meanwhile, Villanueva also encouraged those who want to be volunteers as more help will be appreciated.
“We still welcome those who want to give their time on May 13. You can reach us through our website and social media accounts,” she added.
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