ILOILO – As the 2022 elections draw near, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in the city and province of Iloilo could not keep themselves off worry amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Paano kami makaboto kay indi pa mapaktan kung asta san-o matapos ang pandemic,” asked Analiza Hudierez of Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, San Enrique town who has an orthopedic disability.
“Ang iban naga-alang-alang magkadto sa voting centers kay nahadlok sa COVID, basi kuno madugangan sakit nila,” added the 53-year-old focal person of the town’s 601-member Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO).
According to Hudierez, some of PDAO’s members do not know yet how to secure ballots in the voting machines.
Come election day, Hudierez appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to provide PWDs and other vulnerable sectors with a separate room near the gate or entrance of polling precincts to facilitate their voting and avoid being exposed to other voters.
There must also be wheelchairs at the entrance, and someone should assist PWDs or senior citizens upon entry, she added.
“Tani matalupangdan man kami kay may right man kami nga magboto sa amon nagustohan nga candidates,” said Hudierez.
This was also the concern of Marjo Posadas Lardera, 35, of Barangay Loong, Concepcion who was born without arms.
Lardera hoped Comelec could give them a more conducive place to vote.
“Tani may lugar man kami nga separate bala sa iban kay budlay kon damo ang tawo,” Lardera said in an interview with Panay News.
Lardera was also worried that given the crowd of voters, health protocols could be compromised, especially social distancing.
Nonetheless, Lardera said this would not stop him from voting.
Lardera’s advice to his fellow PWDs and other vulnerable sectors is to always be vigilant and adhere to the minimum public health standards such as wearing of facemasks, social distancing and frequent hand washing.
For Lardera, it is the duty of everyone to participate in the election by voting the best candidate who could “bring change to the country.”
Seventy-four-year-old Celedonia Camacho of Iloilo City also shared the same sentiment.
“Ang virus ara man gihapon. Ti, ako may edad na kag mahuyang, madasig lang matapikan sang masakit,” Camacho told Panay News.
Camacho hoped senior citizens could get priority lanes. She observed that in past elections, there were no such lanes for vulnerable sectors.
This was also the recommendation of Social Welfare Officer, Mariecar Labinghisa, focal person of the Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 6.
It is more advantageous if someone assists senior citizens, said Labinghisa.
However, Labinghisa is confident that the concerns of senior citizens are being acted upon by the government.
Based on the data from Comelec-6, as of Oct. 21, 2019, Iloilo city and province had 7,486 PWD voters and 248,938 elderly voters.
Here’s the breakdown per town of PWD registered voters in this province: Guimbal (51), Igbaras (110), Miag-ao (146), Oton (159), San Joaquin (168), Tigbauan (75), Tubungan (one), Alimodian (42), Leganes (82), Leon (139), New Lucena (102), Pavia (175), San Miguel (52), Santa Barbara (170), Zarraga (172), Badiangan (55), Bingawan (23), Cabatuan (39), Calinog (624), Janiuay (400), Lambunao (547), Maasin (125), Mina (81), Pototan (42), Anilao (23), Banate (62), Barotac Nuevo (81), Dingle, (133), Dueñas (428), Dumangas (189), San Enrique (124), Passi City (141), Ajuy (108), Balasan (329), Barotac Viejo (136),Batad (239), Carles (339), Concepcion (106), Estancia (21), Lemery (191), San Dionsio (180), San Rafael (33), Sara (326), and Iloilo City (716).
Meanwhile, for senior citizen voters: Guimbal (4,160), Igbaras (3,787), Miag-ao (7,628), Oton (8,494), San Joaquin (5,934), Tigbauan (7,433), Tubungan (2,644), Alimodian (4,116), Leganes (3,083), Leon (5,595), New Lucena (2,969), Pavia (5,387), San Miguel (3,214), Santa Barbara (6,830), Zarraga (2,729), Badiangan (3,508), Bingawan (1,703), Cabatuan (6,227), Calinog (6,272), Janiuay (5,979), Lambunao (644), Maasin (4,279), Mina (2,554), Pototan (7,298), Anilao (3,008), Banate (3,411), Barotac Nuevo (6,291), Dingle (5,093), Dueñas (4,124), Dumangas (8,084), San Enrique (3,819), Passi City (8,928), Ajuy (5,605), Balasan (3,441), Barotac Viejo (4,686), Batad (2,236), Carles (6,738), Concepcion (3,981), Estancia (4,330), Lemery (3,244), San Dionisio (3,824), San Rafael (1,700), Sara (399), and Iloilo City (53,545)
COMELEC ASSURES
Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, director of Comelec-6, said the commission is ready to cater to senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, and other vulnerable sectors in the upcoming elections. In fact, the Comelec has just put in place some measures in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) to make the polling precincts friendly to the said sectors.
In particular, Balisado said, they will ensure that PWDs and senior citizens have a priority lane and will be placed in a more accessible area, especially with a ramp.
“As far as PWDs and senior citizens are concerned, we are trying to make an arrangement na doon sila sa accessible na lugar na may mga ramp as far as applicable,” Balisado told Panay News.
Balisado explained that they also want to accommodate all the requests and concerns of PWDs and senior citizens but there are some schools that are not “updated” to accommodate PWDs, especially schools that have been built for a long time.
“As much as we would like to make voting for them easier as possible, hindi talaga natin ma-assure na it will be all the same all throughout. May lugar talaga na example may other buildings or areas natin mga bago na mayroon ng requirements ng ramp. Most likely medyo hindi na nahirapan ang naka-wheel chair na PWDs kasi may ramp,” added Balisado.
Currently, Comelec is coordinating with DepEd to conduct an inventory of the school building that is accessible to PWDs.
One of the priorities of the Comelec and DepEd is to place voting centers on the ground floor as much as possible.
Comelec is also considering setting up waiting areas for PWDs and senior citizens outside the precinct for them to rest.
Also, Balisado said PWDs and senior citizens who are no longer capable of shading the ballots are allowed to accompany a family member.
“Actually allowed sila to help, person of their confidence most likely next of kin. Kung wala talaga, puede ‘yong guro ang mag-help sa kanila. Kasi if ever ‘yong ability nila to vote or pag-shade is affected sa disability nila then somebody can assist them,” Balisado said.
PROTOCOLS VS COVID-19
Balisado explained that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voters will be subjected to a temperature check upon entry.
Voters who show symptoms or high body temperature will be isolated in another room so as not to put other vulnerable sectors at risk.
The symptomatic individual will still be allowed to vote but they will not be able to enter voting precincts.
Instead, a personnel would assist them to fill up ballot forms.
Everyone should also wear facemask, observe social distancing and bring a ball pen.
However, Balisado said the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) will also provide ball pens and disinfect them.
Balisado explained that the measures they will implement in the upcoming elections are not only aimed at protecting vulnerable sectors but all registered voters as well as election and DepEd personnel.
Balisado’s statement was supported by Comelec-Iloilo supervisor, Atty. Elizabeth Doronila.
According to Doronila, PWDs, senior citizens and other vulnerable sectors have nothing to worry about after priority lanes have been set up.
“We would like to assure our voters especially ang PWDs and senior citizens naton nga well-prepared ang Comelec sa pagboto ilabi na sa pag-assure sang ila safety sa COVID-19 during election day,” said Doronila.
Balisado is encouraging registered voters including PWDs and senior citizens to exercise their rights to vote.
“Our right to suffrage is sacred and it is inherent on us or provided sa Constitution. If you are a PWD or a senior citizen, this would be more reason na dapat marining na boses mo,” said Balisado.
Physical disability should not also be a hindrance to the right of suffrage, he added.
“Being PWDs or seniors should not be a hindrance for you to vote. In fact, part ‘yan ng program ng Comelec na inclusiveness,” said Balisado.
MORE VOTERS
Balisado also believed that many voters will participate in the upcoming local and presidential elections, especially with the intense social media promotion of each of the supporters of their chosen candidates.
“I think dahil based sa history talaga ‘pag presidential elections lumalabas talaga ang mga tao. They really want their voices to be counted so ‘yong eagerness,” said Balisado.
Everyone seems excited to cast their votes in the elections, he said.
This is evident with the large number of people registered from September 2020 to October 2021 in Region 6.
A total of 647,586 applications were received by Comelec-6, mostly of which were applications for voters ’registration.
Balisado estimated that the region will have 4.8 million registered voters in the upcoming elections once the data on the applications received by the Comelec is segregated./PN