MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations World Health Organization estimates that one in every 10 Filipinos is living with physical disability. With the upcoming elections, VSO Bahaginan, a development organization that engages volunteers and institutional partners into a wide range of volunteer programs, and AKAP Pinoy, a network of more than 446 disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) working to uplift the quality of life of PWDs, have joined forces with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to empower PWD to exercise their right to vote in the May elections through a series of initiatives.
“In our recent National Disability Forum, the sector identified that the right to participate in political and public life remains a challenge for PWDs. This led us to find ways that will help ensure PWD’s participation in the upcoming elections,” AKAP Pinoy program officer Daylinda Taleon said.
The steps started with AKAP Pinoy and VSO Bahaginan coordinating with the Comelec to set up six special registration sites nationwide. About 160 PWDs in the six target locations – Cabanatuan City, San Fernando City in Pampanga, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City and Zamboanga City — were mobilized and registered as new voters. This was the first time in the history of Philippine elections that Comelec held a Special Registration Day for the benefit of PWD in collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
“The partnership with VSO Bahaginan has helped us a lot and their volunteers have worked with so many of our activities,” Taleon said. The training for the focal persons in the target sites was conducted by VSO Bahaginan volunteers.
“We are pleased to support and work with a number of disability partners as part of our commitment to the inclusion of disabled persons in mainstream society,” remarked Jay Neil Ancheta, VSO Bahaginan’s national volunteering program officer.
VSO Bahaginan and AKAP Pinoy expressed appreciation for the support given by the Comelec, whose representatives participated in the AKAP Pinoy General Assembly last year with a demonstration for PWD voters. Also present in the assembly were representatives from the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the (PPCRV), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Christoffel Blindenmission (Cbm), the Task Force 2010, and the Consortium on Electoral Reforms/Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER).
The PPCRV has agreed to have a PWD assigned to its help desks at select election precincts to assist fellow PWDs who need help in voting. The groups also discussed possible ways of addressing lack of infrastructure for PWDs (i.e., ramps and elevators) in the voting centers.
AKAP Pinoy advocates for the rights of PWD by raising awareness and providing PWD access to information, as well as empowering them to exercise their right to contribute to development by electing leaders who will support their cause. VSO Bahaginan works with AKAP Pinoy through its National Volunteering Program by providing technical support and mentoring so they can effectively manage volunteers in their work.
In the long run, VSO Bahaginan and AKAP Pinoy hope to see PWDs running for elective posts and having adequate representation in government. In the more immediate future, they are working on enabling PWDs to participate in elections as poll-watchers.