Voters want precinct for elderly, PWDs

CEBU, Philippines - Despite waiting in line for over an hour under the blistering heat of the sun, Luciana Redoble, 53, was determined to cast her vote not only to experience for the first time the automated system but to make sure that her choices are counted.

Redoble said she failed to vote in the 2010 elections when the automated system was first applied. She arrived at Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School in Barangay Apas at 12:45 p.m. and completed her voting at 2 p.m.

She observed that persons with disabilities and senior citizens should be given special precincts so as not to delay the regular voters.

Angelita Manalastas, 40, shared the same observation. Manalastas assisted her 72-year-old blind mother, Antonia, in voting at the Guadalupe Elementary School.

After assisting her mother, Manalastas had to proceed to her own precinct to cast her vote only to find out a long line of voters waiting for their turn to cast their vote.

She had to ask for special consideration from the Board of Election Inspectors to be accommodated ahead of the others because her mother needs her assistance.

“Every election, there should be a special area for senior citizens who are also PWDs with their guardian kay karon, papananghiron ko sa tanang galinya para makabotar ko pero dili sila mo consider,” she said.

Her mom has voted at clustered precinct number 510 while she was designated at a precinct located few meters away.

“This is my mother. Ako ang nag-assist mo vote niya but I still have to think kon movote ba ko. Dili pod pwede nga biyaan ra nako siya sa isa ka area. Mo consider lang unta pod ang mga tao,” she said.

Manalastas said that her mother, despite her condition, wanted to vote.

“Ganahan gyod ko mobutar ug lisod pod kon dili ko kabutar kay mawala ko sa lista sa senior sa syudad,” Antonia said.

The city government is giving P12,000 annual financial assistance to 67,300 senior citizens registered in the city. (FREEMAN)