VOLUNTEER organizations assisted voters in finding their precincts Monday, May 14.
At Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School, uniformed Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Davao University helped to ensure the smooth flow of the voting of those who braved the heat and cast their vote for the elections.
Boy Scout coordinator Joseph Lee said that some 20 to 25 members of the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) yesterday set up a voter’s assistance center where the names of the voters can be found electronically.
Lee said they set up five laptops for the purpose after getting a softcopy of all the voters of Matina Crossing.
“This is an initiative of Dranhs as part of the community service, for example for senior citizens, they were assisted and guided to their polling precincts,” he said.
He said that it was an initiative of BSP members to help those who forgot their precinct numbers. About 90 percent did not know of their precinct numbers but located it after an electronic search.
Lee said that those who forgot their precinct numbers were those who lost their voter’s IDs and those who did not have voter’s IDs.
Les also said that he observed only few voters cast their votes compared to the national polls where long queues were observed in precinct areas.
Aside from BSP, Ateneo Blue Vote volunteers were also visible yesterday at Dranhs for voter’s assistance.
Media relations officer of Blue Vote Alexie Puerto told Sun.Star Davao that a total of 220 volunteers were deployed yesterday in six schools at Matina Area particularly at New SIR, Kabacan, Bayanihan, Matina Central Elementary School, Don Manuel Guttierez and Dranhs.
He said that these volunteers include students, faculty, and alumni of the Ateneo de Davao University.
At Matina Aplaya Elementary School, Blue Vote volunteers were also helping. Some were assisting those locating their precincts, while others were attending to those who needed help because of physical infirmities.
Puerto said that they have headquarters at Ateneo de Davao University 8th floor where they can refer complaints of election offenses.