By Wilson J. Homeguera
Xavier University’s Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) in partnership with the City’s Commission on Elections, and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) – MisOr held a Multi-Sectoral Voters Education Forum on March 20 at XU Peace Park.
The forum had three parts: presentation of the vision of Kagayanon for Good Governance (KGG) Movement; Presentation of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machine; and the open forum. Engr. Ermin Stan B. Pimentel, KKP Director, presented KGG’s vision, which is “an engaged, disciplined, and responsive KAGAYANON seeking leaders imbuing the People-Centered Altruism and Political Will of a Mayor Justiniano Borja; the Invigorating Socio-cultural Perspective of a Fr. Francisco Demetrio SJ; the Visionary Urban Management of a Mayor Reuben Canoy; the Intelligent Local Governance Formulation of a Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr; and the Integrity and Participatory Housekeeping of a Mayor Jesus Robredo, who, with and in their likes, will work for the rebuilding and sustainable development of Cagayan de Oro as a place that is orderly and clean as Davao City; as environmentally protective as Puerto Princesa City; as culturally embracing as Zamboanga City; as socially and politically empowered as Naga City; and as economically progressive as Cebu City.”
Atty. Aleli Ramirez, Cagayan de Oro Election Officer, facilitated the orientation and demonstration of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machine. Atty. Ramirez assured the public that the PCOS machine has 99.99% accuracy and that hacking is unlikely to succeed because of its very tight security. The open forum was facilitated by Mr. Nestor Banuag Jr, NAMFREL Provincial Coordinator.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit, VP-RSO, said that XU works for good governance and one of its approaches is through Responsible Citizenship. The forum, she added, is a good venue which brings people and civic organizations together to work for a clean and honest elections.
Other than the KKP volunteers and some members of Xavier Community, also present in the forum were representatives from different barangays of the city, XUHS ‘70 alumni, Monark Foundation, KGG Supporters, KGG Youth, Global Changemakers, Amnesty International, Urban Friends Society, Association of Youth Leaders in Northern Mindanao, Pilgrim Christian College – Supreme Student Council, and National Youth Commission.