Comelec to help 'little known' bets in voters' education program

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now busy training its pool of trainors who will handle voters’ education for the coming May midterm polls.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the budget has already been released to the body’s Education and Information Department (EID) for the training.

Brillantes, however, could not say how much is the released budget for the voters’ education.

“We have started with the trainors’ training.  We will then later coordinate with the various media agencies and networks for the implementation of voter education,” said Brillantes in an interview yesterday at the launching of TV 5” “Pagbabago 2013” in Pasay City.

Brillantes said part of the voters' education budget would go to the sponsorship for little known candidates.

Brillantes said the Comelec intends to give these candidates voters' exposure through the “Comelec Hour” which it would sponsoring at the various television and radio networks.

Meanwhile, Brillantes has appealed to media to become the poll body’s partner in the coming May polls.

“Media is now a partner of Comelec during the election period. Kung walang TV networks, di kami magiging effective,” he said in his speech at the launching of “Pagbabago 2013.”

“Media has a very persuasive effect. Anything that you come out has an effect. Kayo (media) ang dapat tumulong sa amin within the next few months. Dapat magtulungan tayo,” Brillantes added.