Dumaguete: The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete plans to deploy approximately 15,000 volunteers for the forthcoming May 12 national and local elections. Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, who serves as the DEB convenor and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) coordinator for Negros Oriental and Siquijor, announced that these volunteers will be actively engaged before, during, and after the election day.

According to Philippines News Agency, the volunteers will include poll watchers, technical personnel, logistics, and other crucial support staff. The DEB, as an umbrella organization of the PPCRV and other entities, holds recognition from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for its significant role in electoral processes.

The DEB is committed to advocating for Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful (CHAMP) elections. In preparation for this initiative, the board has organized voter education training sessions in collaboration with partner educational institutions.

On Wednesday, around 100 volunteers from various parishes participated in an activity centered on responsible and factual reporting. The event also focused on combating misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. These volunteers have been encouraged to leverage social media platforms to promote CHAMP elections and report any incidents related to the upcoming May polls.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has enlisted the help of the PPCRV and the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) as citizens' arms for the May midterm elections.