MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the opening of daycare centers in all cities, municipalities, barangays, and provincial governments on May 9 to allow mothers to vote.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the en banc last week passed a resolution via unanimous decision to require local governments to open daycare centers where mothers can leave their children while voting, adding that it should be equipped with food for children.
“We are requiring the town, cities, and provinces na buksan ang mga daycare centers nila from 6 o'clock in the morning to five in the afternoon at may pagkain yung bata,” Guanzon said.
Guanzon said the opening of daycare centers seek to encourage women and mothers to vote.
“We want to encourage the mothers who are usually parent caregivers of small children…and marami pong mga nanay na wala po silang maiwan ng kanilang mga anak sa bahay kaya di po sila boboto,” Guanzon said.
“Para po makaboto sila buksan po ng mga local governments ang kanilang mga daycare center. Iwanan po ng mga nanay dun ang kanilang mga anak na maliliit para makaboto po sila,” she explained.
The commissioner earlier announced the Comelec’s order on her Twitter account.