Filipinos should be “politically informed and morally guided” as they head on to the polls in the upcoming national and local elections on May 9.
This is what Dr. Ma. Stella C. Tirol, dean of the College of Development Communication (CDC), said at the university flag-raising ceremony sponsored by CDC on April 18.
According to Dean Tirol, “to decide wisely on our leaders is a responsibility of every voting Filipino. Our decision-making should be rational, proof- or evidenced-based, hinged upon a strong moral belief.”
As part of the college’s and university’s efforts to inform the electorate, CDC is spearheading Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022, a voter’s literacy and education campaign and election coverage.
Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022 is conducting webinars and training sessions on election-related matters and election reportage.
One of the main highlights of Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022 is its live multi-platform election day coverage, which will run on broadcast/teleradyonet and digital platforms.
Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022 forms part of the UPLB sa Halalan 2022 public service initiative.
“To inform and educate us about our candidates and their platforms, political fact-checking, the election process, and voting behavior, our university is facilitating how we can future-proof or prepare ourselves in advance for our May election,” Dean Tirol said.
According to her, Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022 has partnered with various academic institutions, organizations, and groups for its election coverage.
Dean Tirol invited people to volunteer in Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022. As volunteers, they will be trained in election coverage protocols, political fact-checking, and writing and reporting for broadcast and web platforms.
During the flag ceremony, CDC also launched the new version of Bantay Halalan Laguna’s theme, Para Sa Bayan. The 2022 version, performed by CDC students Lynde de los Reyes, Jr. and Marie Janille Berdin, was originally composed in 2016 by CDC alumni Jennifer Milante and Caleb Gasilao. A singing challenge will also be launched via the UPLBOfficial TikTok account.
The Bantay Halalan Laguna 2022 election coverage is available on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. (Guien Eidrefson P. Garma)
This article was originally published on the UPLB website.