COMELEC holds First Simulation of Voting for PWDs outside Metro Manila

by Cyrus A. Natividad

COMELEC Commissioner Al Parreño and Comelec 6 Regional Director Atty. Dennis Ausan paid a courtesy call to President Teodoro Robles.

The Commission on Elections National Office held its first Simulation of Voting for Persons with Disability outside Metro Manila on January 21, 2020, at Central Philippine University. The simulation was held from 7 AM to 5 PM at the Ground Floor of the Senior High School Building.

COMELEC Commissioner Al A. Parreño was with COMELEC Region 6 Director Denis Ausan, a Centralian, to observe and evaluate the proceedings. Around 180 Persons with Disability were ushered into the rooms where the voting simulations were held. In an interview by CPUTV, Parreño explained the new electoral process, saying, “We need everyone to vote. We consider the percentage of voters who are Persons with Disability (PWD).” He further clarified that there is a prescribed number of months before the Presidential Elections for evaluation and results of the tests.”

A COMELEC staff giving a lecture during the simulation.

The PWDs who came in with their caretakers, crutches and walkers thanked the COMELEC and the organizers for providing the opportunity to vote conveniently. “We are provided with a special set of forms and we expect a separate set of equipment for us,” said one of the PWD voters.

In a related development, Commissioner Parreño conferred with the Board of Trustees Vice Chairman, Atty. Peter Corvera, Convention Philippine Baptist Churches General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson Narciso, and CPU Communications Director Rev. Francis Neil Jalandoon later in the afternoon, to discuss the heritage of the Baptist faith about the 120th Anniversary of the Baptist faith in the Philippines. He wrote about the 120th year of the Philippine Baptists in the Philippine Star, a national daily on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

One of the PWD’s being coached by the trainors of the simulation.

Commissioner Parreño will also be the Guest Speaker of Central Philippine University Commencement Exercises for the 2nd Semester 2019-2020.