PPCRV, group launch voter education website

MANILA, Philippines — Fact-checkers movement Pinas Forward and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) have launched an interactive youth-oriented website dubbed e-Boto containing comprehensive information about national and local candidates for the May 9 elections.

“We are thrilled that our youth volunteers have come up with a one-stop platform for factual, unbiased information on candidates in the 2022 elections,” Jan Co Chua, Pinas Forward board member, said during the website’s launching yesterday.

“Designed by the youth for the youth, the e-Boto website makes voter education fun and interesting for people of all ages,” Chua, also a former faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila Communications Department, said.

The e-Boto website allows users to compare and contrast presidential candidates including their track record, stand on issues, professional achievements and projects.

The website also features a section dubbed the “Botante Bible,” which contains a compilation of engaging voter education materials made by credible organizations including the PPCRV.

Users of the website can also practice accomplishing digital sample ballots and participate in online games and activities that touch on issues relevant to the elections and put voter knowledge to a test.

Pinas Forward board member Gian Paolo Pangan said that currently, the website offers information on all candidates for national posts – president, vice president and senator as well as local candidates in Luzon.

Pangan, however, said the website will expand it scope soon to cover local candidates in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Pinas Forward gave assurance that no politician is behind the initiative, adding that the funding for the “passion project” came from its board members’ pockets.

The PPCRV appealed to candidates for the May 9 elections to take time to share their platforms to the voters by participating in various interviews and media fora.

“We really do encourage our candidates to share their time with us (the voters). Tomorrow’s event is with all of the trusted media agencies, so we would like to encourage all candidates to share as much information,” PPCRV chairperson Myla Villanueva said yesterday on the sidelines of e-Boto launch. – Janvic Mateo