Church, Comelec, DepEd to hold electoral summit

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu in partnership with the Commission on Elections and the Department of Education is holding a summit to address election issues and come up with concrete actions for electoral reforms.

The one day event dubbed as “Summit on Credible Cebu Elections 2013: Addressing the Most Challenging Elections Issues” will be held on February 23 at the Mariners’ Court Cebu.

Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma said the summit will “endeavor to forge maximum unity in embracing electoral advocacy and in implementing the needed concrete strategies for electoral reforms.”

Among the issues to be tackled during the summit include vote-buying, electoral rules violation and irregularities, political dynasty and sectoral agenda.

The sectoral agenda workshop will have farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor (informal settlers, vendors, and drivers), workers, women, youth, elderly and persons with disabilities, as participants.

Palma, Visayas Clergy Discernment Group Head Convenor Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro, and COMELEC 7 Director Temie Lambino are among the speakers for the summit.

Around a thousand participants are expected to attend in this conference, including COMELEC election officers, DepEd supervisors, Cebu clergy, NGOs/POs representatives, universities and colleges’ representatives, administrators or faculty, youth leaders, PNP (Regional, Province, City) directors, political parties, local government units (LGUs), business, and religious/faith-based communities or councils.

Participants are required a minimum registration fee of Php 250.00 to cover for the lunch, snacks, and handouts. Inquiries can be made at the Archdiocesan Discernment Group Secretariat at telephone (032) 255-2743.

As of this writing, over a hundred participants have already confirmed their participation in the summit. The deadline for the submission of registration will be on February 11.   (FREEMAN)