WITH one out of three Filipinos having access to the Internet, social media can become a potent venue for political campaigns and produce votes for the candidates, a Cebu-based blogger said.
Lawyer Ethelbert Ouano said a study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology showed that 35 percent of 95 million Filipinos have access to the Internet.
Ouano, legal consultant of the Cebu Bloggers' Society, noted that the Internet users cited in the study are within the voting age.
But would using social media properly translate to actual votes?
Ouano said that using social media such as Facebook and Twitter creatively can make campaigns go viral, appeal to emotions, and cultivate exchanges and interest.
Engaging voters
While candidates with most “likes” online may not be leading in surveys, these “likes” could translate to votes if the candidates engage netizens.
“You are not assured you have engaged all who follow you. But the followers could translate as votes for you if you engage them,” he said.
For those monitoring the social media accounts of candidates, Ouano suggested using a computer application called Twitter App to verify the actual number of followers a politician has.
Ouano said it was allegedly found that out of 31,709 followers of senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubirri in his the Twitter account, only 476 are real.
Also, 17,657 “followers” of JV Ejecito were allegedly found to be fake, and only 6,631 were real accounts.
Values campaign
Meanwhile, the Dilaab Fondation Inc. is pursuing its values campaign wherein voters are reminded to carefully evaluate each candidate before voting for them.
Jenny Lea Tan, Dilaab's Circles of Discernment for Empowerment project coordinator, said the group has the “Laser” test that voters could use. The acronym Laser stands for Lifestyle, Action, Supporters, Election Conduct, Reputation.”
Volunteers, she added, have put up various campaign stickers on houses that urge voters to choose candidates wisely and warn against the consequences of vote buying, among others.
The group also announced support for the Cebu Archdiocese's political arm, the Cebu-Citizens' Involvement and Maturation in People's Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel), in its poll watching advocacy.
C-Cimpel volunteer Chadwick Llenos said they had 17,110 volunteers in the 2010 elections who worked as poll watchers and manned voters' assistance booths.
The election watchdog, whch was established in 1986, also works closely with the National Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.