Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday welcomed the accreditation of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting by the Commission on Elections, as its citizens' arm in the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

The bishop said the PPCRV in Negros, headed by lay diocesan coordinator Dorie Cabilso, has been preparing for the polls next year for some time now.

Cabilso said they began organizational work since August and are calling on more volunteers to sign up as poll watchers.

Interested volunteers may inquire from their parish priests, or visit the PPCRV desk, at the Social Action Center Office at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City, she said. They need about 3,000 volunteers, she said.

Fr. Ernie Larida is the priest diocesan coordinator of the PPCRV, she added.

The COMELEC yesterday released its Resolution SPP No. 12-197 accrediting PPCRV since it has "established its track record as one of the Commission's staunch allies in ensuring clean, orderly, peaceful and honest elections."

"The Commission recognizes PPCRV as one of the organizations which has established its membership and structure all over the Philippines and has demonstrated its capacity to promote public interest," it said.

As a result of its accreditation, the COMELEC said the PPCRV, is tasked to conduct poll watching in various precincts, and to assist voters on election day, most especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, detainees, indigenous peoples and other members of the vulnerable sectors.

The PPCRV is also tasked to assist the COMELEC in voters' information and education drives in every town, city and province, most especially in far-flung areas, and to sectors experiencing inaccessibility in getting information from the Commission.

On the other hand, the COMELEC is duty-bound to furnish the PPCRV with the electronic copies of the Computerized Voters List and Precincts for the effective discharge of its responsibility, it said.

The fourth copy of the Election Returns printed by the PCOS Machine prior to transmission for the conduct of an unofficial count will also be furnished to the PPCRV, it added.*CPG

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