Cabaero: Know your voter

IT’S the season not to know your candidate but for your candidate to know you.

How many of the candidates to the May 13 midterm elections bothered to ask voters what are their aspirations, their dreams?

It’s not only about the uncollected garbage or the lack of water in this dry spell or traffic nightmares or fear for their safety. It’s about what voters need to be able to attain their dreams, about empowering them so they can decide their fate.

SunStar brings these voices to the candidates in its “Know your voter” feature. Published last week, the report concluded that traffic and crimes are the top concerns of Cebu voters because they want their children to have it better than they did.

Produced by Jayvee Gulfan and Von Daniel Plasencia, interns from the University of San Carlos, the multimedia report that came out in the newspaper and on www.sunstar.com.ph said solutions to traffic, peace and order and other social problems are what voters want to see in their communities as the 2019 elections draw near.

They interviewed 10 registered voters from different barangays and municipalities in Cebu, just to get a glimpse of their aspirations.

Benedict Remedio, 21, said the traffic problem in Talamban must be solved because it has an impact on people’s time and money. More time on the road means higher fare and time better spent working or studying or being with the family. Amytes Bontilao, 34, said: “What I want is simple. (That) there will be no chaos and people are organized while police and politicians are united, not having different opinions. For my family, I am hoping that they (my children) will grow up following the law and for them to finish the course of their choice.”

If a candidate came down from the campaign stage and heard that directly from a voter, I wonder what the response would be about the wish for politicians and police to get united. Would the candidate appear to agree while actually disregarding it?

Some respondents also said they wish the community would critically think about issues happening in the province, especially cases of rape and brutal killings. Ann Libron, 48, from Badian, said: “I am hoping that there will be no killings, rape, and drugs. These are the issues officials should look into to change our community.”

Julian Sam Amodia, 26, private school teacher and Barangay Kamputhaw voter, said he wants people to remember the basic moral and ethical values to ensure that the province stays peaceful and orderly. “Impart values that are very useful in our society today,” he said.

Of course, politicians mouth the same concerns in between their dancing and bantering on the campaign stage, but it must be different to feel the heart of the voters. For them to know their voter is a challenge. They cannot just tell voters what they’ll do if elected. They should ask voters what are their aspirations, then proceed from there.

To know your voter, go to https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1797749.

(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)

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