March 9, 2009

The Senate has recently passed the Law on the automation of the elections and has provided funds for such. The 2010 upcoming elections will be automated. Some argue that the voting will still be manual since there will be a paper to be provided for and the voter will shade the candidate of his or her choice. What is automated is the counting.

I am blessed to have won the 2007 elections even if I was the only one who ran under a local party, UGYON party, and did not have a national party. I was affiliated though with a national party and adopted by a coalition. Until this day, almost two years after the election, I could not stop thanking the people who gave their trust in the youngest candidate that time and a new resident of the City. The gratitude for lending me the position I have now will always be present. My victory was unexpected and against all odds.

When one mentions the upcoming elections, a lot of people get worried about possible cheating especially if one isn’t an incumbent or a part of the administration. We have always heard but hardly proven cheating during the elections. This is quite worrisome because maybe the true voice of the people will not be known and heard, and an undeserving candidate without a real mandate is put in a position.

As the so called automation of the upcoming 2010 elections has already apparently met its pre requisites and all systems go already, the voting behavior and voting system will need to change. There should be an adequate information and education campaign on the new system of voting and the new procedure of voting. There should also be a safeguard on possible high technology cheating.

We as voters should be vigilant of possible cheating or repression of the true voice of the people. The election is a show of how democratic our political system is. It gives the power to the people and the power of government comes from the people.

The filing of certificate of candidacy is said to be this coming November 2009. It is about 3-4 months earlier than the usual. This is good for the voters since they will have more time to get to know the candidates so they could make well thought of, well analyzed, and well informed decisions. The point of contention is will their real voice be heard and will this be truly reflected in the candidates who will be proclaimed in a matter of hours after the elections. What we are asking for and should work hard to ascertain is that just like in school or when we join games in sports, no cheating please.

Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.