Over 29 organizations representing a cross-section of civil society: the private sector, academe and youth-oriented civic groups, religious associations, welfare advocacy groups, community organizers, election protection groups, thought leaders and influencers launch “Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon: Magparehistro. Bumoto. Para Sa Bukas Natin,” a nonpartisan and multisectoral coalition, to inspire seven million prospective voters to register or reactivate their voting status with the Commission on Elections by September 30, 2021, the last day of registration for the upcoming national elections in 2022.
Led by former Comelec Chairman Christian S. Monsod as lead convenor and former Comelec Commissioner Luie Tito F. Guia as national coordinator, together with the Commission on Human rights, the country’s largest coalition on voter registration mounts “REGI TO VOTE,” a national initiative in both social media and the grassroots networks of its 29-strong organization of convening members.
“The 2022 elections are critical to our future as a nation. In a democracy, the people exercise their sovereignty mainly by voting for their agents in government, a power where everyone is equal. The mission of Koalisyon is to get that power of one to register and to vote and their collective will be respected — the essence of democracy,” says Monsod on the purpose of the coalition. Monsod also adds that, “hopefully the health situation will have improved by May 2022. By not registering now you lose that power by default, especially the poor and marginalized whose voices should be heard in democratic elections. Additionally, we are also working with the Comelec on satellite registration venues and prioritizing the vaccination of Comelec frontliners to reduce risk to registrants.”
With only less than six months until registration ends on September 30, the coalition reveals its plans to host a livestreamed virtual event in partnership with major media networks, celebrities, thought leaders and influencers in social media on May 22, 2021. “Reach is vital in ensuring that every prospective voter in the country is inspired to take the first step towards participating in the election next year. We need to reignite in every Filipino our love for the country through hope, optimism, and even excitement about our collective future. Let every voter registration count towards healing a country divided by its very own politics,” says Pao Peña, the coalition’s national communications head, as he shares their launch and voter education plans for the coming months. “We are excited to work with such a diverse coalition and execution partners, all unified around the same goal: 7 additional million voters for 2022,” Peña adds.
Joining the coalition as convenors are the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, AKTOR – League of Filipino Actors, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, Legal Network for Truthful Elections, Votenet Philippines, Makati Business Club, Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, +iMPACT Leadership, Kaya Natin!, Kilos Ko, PinasForward, Rotary Club of Makati, Rotaract Club of Makati, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid, Task Force Mapalad, Pakisama, Pesante, Climate Change Congress of the Philippines, Urban Poor Associates, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., Nene Guevara of Synergeia Foundation, Amina Rasul-Bernardo of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, Ed Chua of the Makati Business Club and former Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman. The group expects more organizations and advocacy, and sectoral groups to join the coalition in the coming days. The country’s two major parties, Partido Demoktratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan and the Liberal Party of the Philippines, have expressed support for the campaign.
The Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon: Magparehistro. Bumoto. Para Sa Bukas Natin. is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. More information in Tagalog, Bisaya and English is available for download through https://tinyurl.com/E22Primers.
