‘Bobotantes’? Educate voters via mock election

Six months ago I first asked DOTr to detail the rehab cost of MRT-3. Back in May it said P17 billion was needed, but gave no breakdown of how much is track replacement, equipment upgrade, train overhaul, and upkeep. It has since upped the cost to P18 billion, still no explanation. People have a right to know, as they will repay the steep amount to be borrowed from Japan. One doesn’t just have his car repaired or dwelling redone without a bill of materials and labor. From itemized DOTr costs, local and foreign rail experts could gauge the justness. Good for DOTr.

Instead of being transparent, DOTr has only issued motherhood statements and diversions. It questioned my motive and accused me of fake news. Of late it caused one Daily Sentry to parrot it. That website “has a history of published false and misleading content,” according to Vera Files, an official fact-checker of Facebook.

Does DOTr intend to hide the truth forever?

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Conscientious citizens are aghast. Leading in surveys on the May 2019 balloting are the traditional politicos, dynasts, and crooks. They blame it on respondents who go only for the popular, not the worthy.

Voters must subject candidates to the LASER test. Aspirants for senator, congressman, and local posts need assessing in terms of:

Lifestyle - Does s/he live modestly, in line with constitutional rules for public officials? Does he have unexplained wealth, incommensurate to his salary or lawful income?

Actions – Does he have a track record of competence and servant-leadership? Is he for the common good, not a vested interest?

Supporters – Who are his campaigners and contributors? Will dealings with them compromise him? Does his family uphold integrity?

Election conduct – Does he obey election laws and respect the rights of voters and rivals? Or buy votes, overspend on ads, use government property, and has posters outside prescribed areas?

Reputation – Has he been involved in scandal? Aside from attending Mass and public prayers, is he God-fearing and morally upright?

Other questions can be added, said LASER test developers, Cebu priest Fr. Melo Diola, ex-audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, and the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo. Candidates can measure themselves with the same.

What next? Voter conscientizer Willie Villarama suggests holding a national mock election using the LASER test. That could boost the chances of less known, underfunded candidates. If more LASER passers win elective seats, the country will have a chance truly to change.

There are several ways to hold a mock national balloting. Crucial is the credibility of the organizers.

One is by picking citizens to vet the candidates via the LASER. There can be ten from each of the 255 congressional districts, or 2,550 in all. To truly represent the population, half can be male, and half female. Half can be millennials born 1980 or later, and half “lolo-nials” born before then. Five can be from income class D and E, three from C, and two from A-B. And so forth.

All must be politically neutral, unrelated to any of the national or local candidates by blood, affinity, or work/business. They would be trained to assess the candidates via the LASER test. The Personnel Management Association of the Philippines can draw up criteria for each elective post.

Candidates will be asked to submit data pertinent to LASER. Like, Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, campaign donors, projected and actual expenses as of cutoff date, etc. First-timers need not win first before preparing such SALN. Old-time pols should rush to submit theirs, if only to show clean intentions.

On an appointed day, say, a month before Election Day, the select citizens are to cast votes in a mock balloting. These shall be consolidated, and the results announced. The press shall be invited to cover.

Survey tail-enders who make it to the top of the mock election will be the talk of the town.

Another way to do it is US-style. There the oldest, largest, and most successful method of voter education is the National Student/Parent Mock Election. Millions of students (and some of their parents) vote in their schools, community centers, state capitals, even hospital wards all across the country. Their vote totals are reported to their state or national election headquarters. The press flashes the results across the airwaves and Internet (search the web for mechanics.)

Preparations begin months ahead. Volunteer coordinators distribute voting and curriculum guides, etc.; and plan the election sites, vote tabulations, and all other elements of an actual election. A week or so before Election Day the mock votes are cast. Students would have studied the candidates and party platforms, held forums and debates on issues, and get-out-the-vote drives.

If to be adopted in the Philippines, spearheading can be by a national association of student councils and college editors. Athletes being student attractions, it can even be by UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) alumni. Civic groups can pitch in, along with Catholic, Protestant, evangelical and Muslim leaders.

The point is to stop yakking and start changing. Spread the word.

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

Gotcha archives on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarius-Bondoc/1376602159218459, or The STAR website https://www.philstar.com/columns/134276/gotcha