Gabay Halalan reopens call center

MANILA, Philippines - Gabay Halalan re-opened its call center-like voter’s education system at the Ateneo de Manila University yesterday.

It will be operational for 22-days or until election day.

Bro. Neupito Saicon Jr., SJ,   Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) associate director, said the Gabay Halalan text and call center facility is probably the only organization that entertains election-related questions and provides information assistance to voters on election day.

Saicon said the call center-type operations has been dependent on volunteers for  the past four elections since 2004.

At present, they have about 150 volunteers but they would want more people to join the program, he added.

Their operation center is located at Room 313 of the Convergent Technologies Center (CTC) in the Ateneo campus in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

By accessing their website www.slb.ph, voters may inquire about the profile of candidates for the Senate and party-list groups, and the names of local candidates.

They have also tied up with Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s precinct finder to inform voters of their  precincts.

A voter can also make inquiries on the automated election system (AES) and voting procedure.

During the 2010 presidential elections, the usual problems they received through calls and text messages were from those who could not find their precincts on election day, the merged precincts, disenfranchisement, and how to know if their ballots are already spoiled. There were also reports of vote buying and election-related violence.

They have also tied up with Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) to address reports on vote-buying and election-related violence.

Gabay Halalan 2013 is powered by and in partnership with Globe Telecoms, Ateneo de Manila University, Task Force 2013 (TF2013), INSA-Miriam College, LENTE, MagisSolutions, and iVolunteer.

To avail of the Gabay Halalan 2013 service, voters can use their cellphones.

For Globe subscribers: Text SLBGH2013 <space> CONCERN/S <space> NAME <space> ADDRESS/AREA and send to 2327 (toll-free).

For Sun, Smart, Talk n’Text, TM subscribers: Text SLBGH2013 <space> CONCERN/S <space> NAME <space> ADDRESS/AREA and send to +639178902327 (P1/SMS)

For landline users: Call the following Globe duo numbers: (02) 5090414, (02) 5090081, (02) 5090087, (02) 5090420, (02) 5090497, (02) 5090836, (02) 5091747, (02) 5091860, (02) 5091876, and (02) 5093229.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has accredited the One Vote Movement as a legitimate citizen’s arm.

One Vote Movement was given permission to conduct poll watching in various precincts; provide assistance to the voters on Election Day, most especially to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, detainees, and indigenous people.

The Comelec shall furnish the movement electronic copies of the computerized voter’s list. They will also be allowed to witness the examination and testing of equipment or device that would be used in the voting and counting on the day of the electoral exercise. – Evelyn Macairan