The Diocesan Electoral Board is calling for youth volunteers as poll watchers in the 3,500 polling precincts in Oriental Negros for the May 14 national and local elections.

DEB convenor Rev. Fr. Julius Heruela said 5,000 volunteers are needed for precinct assignments in Oriental Negros while 1,500 will be deployed in the 664 precincts in Siquijor province.

He said a volunteer should exercise non-partisanship, be of voting age 18 years, and should not be publicly supporting any candidate.

He said their efforts for a clean and honest elections need the support of committed individuals and enjoined the people to continue to be vigilant and watchful against possible election fraud. Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had urged the public to do their share in achieving peaceful and credible elections by shunning the agents of election fraud, and enjoined all candidates to follow the rules and regulations set by the Commission on Elections.

Fr. Heruela said those interested to be volunteers may visit the Cathedral Convent and look for Ronnie Flordeliza, or coordinate with the parish priests in their localities.

The DEB will hold a conference today at the Colegio de Sta. Catalina de Alejandria in Dumaguete City.

It is part of a series of dialogs with the prelates involving church organizations as election watchdogs during the elections. Aside from the religious sector, government line agencies and non-government organizations will also take part in the conference to take up some concerns, updates and developments on the coming elections.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national chairperson Ambassador Henrietta de Villa will share with the group updates and plans for the pollwatch activities. The dialogs also aim at considering platforms for national interest, growing investments, delivering infrastructure and services, fighting terror and defeating poverty, the PPCRV added.*RG

back to top