By Rose Anne Valledo
45 days before the May 2010 Elections, IBON Foundation and Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change held a forum, entitled “The People’s Choice” at Balay Kanilaw, UP-Diliman, which discussed and presented 12-point criteria to be considered when voting for a candidate.
One of the three speakers, IBON Foundation Vice-Chairperson and Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change Co-Chairperson Judy discussed the criteria on how people should look for in a leader. She looked into the presidential candidates’ platform, track records and strong conviction in serving the country and its people, as well as their stands on the 12 major social issues: Corruption, Human Rights, National Patrimony, Agrarian Reform, and Agricultural Development, Nationalist Economic policies and Industrialization, Workers, Social Services and Debt Servicing, Taxes, Foreign Policy, Peace Talk, Gender Equality, and National Culture.
She emphasized the importance of knowing the candidates’ stands on certain issues, especially those 12 major social issues because this will have an impact on their decision making once they claim a government position.
The two other speakers, UP-Diliman Mass Communication Dean, Rolando Tolentino and IBON Executive Director Rosario Bella Guzman presented the issue of Automated Election System (AES) and the process of using The People’s Choice Election Kit, respectively.
Prof. Tolentino discussed the positions at stake on the May 2010 elections. He presented facts and figures on the number of candidates and positions both on local and national; he also discussed the net worth, campaign budget, gender profile of presidentiables.
Ms. Guzman, on the other hand, focused on how the audience will use the election kit that IBON Foundation and Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change distributed. The People’s Choice Election Kit includes handouts, brochures, and newsletters that discuss issues of elections; the process of voting, presidentiable’s’ and vice presidentiable’s profiles, 12-point criteria, facts and figures, and more.
The election kit is intended to give an overview of the May 2010 elections and educate the voters.
People from Religious groups, mass and youth organizations, and educational institutions, and concerned individuals attended the forum.
Youth from Kabataan Partylist, Sinag Bayan, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), and Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (Karatula) also participated in the forum and performed a role play that discussed and criticized the platforms of the presidentiables.
