Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan uses technology for voters’ education

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan’s call and text center for the elections started with only a  few volunteers back in 2004 in a small room with only a couple of mobile phone handsets and a telephone directory. Now, almost a decade later, the facility uses today’s technology for voters’ education.

 

Gabay Halalan is a call and text service facility organized by the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB). It provides voters with basic services such as a precinct finder, candidate profiles—senatorial and local candidates, party list profiles, and election information. The call and text center facility is open to election-related questions that voters can access through their mobile phones.

 

“People call and text their election-related concerns. In partnership with Globe, we have set up 40 phones where they can call or some of them can be used for outbound calls,” Bro. Neupito Saicon Jr, SJ, Associated Director of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, said.

 

In 2010, Gabay Halalan was moved to the a bigger room in CTC 313 from the small room they formerly used in SLB. “The difficulty and the challenge during that time was we were already using the automated elections system, so most of the questions raised were about how to use the PCOS machine. The major queries from the electorate involved a lot of technical issues,” Saicon said.

 

The facility gathers volunteers, mostly walk-ins, around 10 a day. It is open not only to students but to professionals as well. On May 11, 12, 13, it will operate 24-hours.

 

Processing an inquiry

 

The text and call center facility works through a simple process. Shift Managers supervise the entire operations of the facility. Incoming inquiries via text or call are then forwarded to 2 team leaders, one for senatorial candidates and the other for election information or precinct information. After that, they are referred to the tele-educators who conduct research on the inquiry. If the information is not readily available on the database, it is forwarded to the researchers present.

 

Volunteering for a change

 

Fourth year AB MA Political Science student Jomar Villanueva volunteered in Gabay Halalan to do “something for the nation.” “I think that as someone who’s already 21, I wanted to do something relevant. And I think, besides voting, one of the most relevant things that I could do as a student is to volunteer in things like these,” Villanueva said.

 

Not only that, Villanueva thinks that volunteering also helps him as a person because he is informed of the usual inquiries of the people. “I personally think that it would help not just the nation, but, also, me, myself, actually, because I’ll be aware of what people’s theories are,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Celina Rotea (4 AB Political Science), said she looks forward to poll watching and being on hand during the elections.

 

“My experience last 2010 was really different because I encountered so many angry voters who couldn’t find their names on the list, or those who had voters cards but were not on the list. I’m really looking forward to assisting these people,” Rotea said.

 

Teacher Dan Rondino, also a volunteer, said that by volunteering, he is actually helping his country. “Maganda rin na makatulong din sa bayan, lalo’t higit sa panahon ngayon, hindi maganda ang nangyayari lalo na pagdating ng halalan. Ito’y isang uri na rin ng paglilingkod sa bayan, kahit papaano ay mayroon kang maitulong sa ikauunlad ng bansa,” Rondino said.

 

“Bilang isang guro, maganda rin na mayroon kang naipapakitang magandang halimbawa sa mga estudyante nang sa gayon ay makatulong rin sila sa bayan,” he added. Press release and photo from Ateneo de Manila University