Agusan Sur IPs walk for hours to vote at polling center
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY — Despite the distance – an hour or two on foot – indigenous peoples (IPs) in Sitio Inagawan, Barangay La Purisima in the municipality of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, still managed to vote in the National and Local Elections (NLE) on Monday, May 12.
Misyang B. Bocales, a senior citizen and an IP from the said sitio, shared that they have long been preparing for this year’s elections.
She recalled that they walked three kilometers just to reach the polling center. It took them almost two hours as they left their homes at 5 a.m. and arrived at 7 a.m. at the polling center inside La Purisima Elementary School.
“Hapsay ra ang pagsugod sa botasyon diri sa among polling precinct. Adunay nakabantay nga mga staff sa Commission on Elections para mag-assist sa mga botante sa ilang mga rooms,” she said.
(The start of the voting process here in our polling precinct was smooth. There were personnel/staff from the Commission on Elections ready to assist the voters in their assigned rooms.)
Bocales also expressed her optimism that the winning candidates will implement more programs that promote the rights and general welfare of the IP sector. “Nagsalig kami nga daghan pay mga maayong programa ug proyekto nga mamugna ug ma-implementar ang mga modaog karon nga eleksyon,” she added.
(We are confident that the winning candidates will create or establish more significant programs that promote the rights and general welfare of the IPs.)
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga also expressed support for the registered IP voters who took the extra effort to participate in the NLE.
Jean P. Gonzales, officer-in-charge of NCIP’s Technical Management and Services Division, highlighted that aside from being an active registered voter, there have been IP leaders who have also taken the challenge and run in different positions for the elections.
“The indigenous peoples in the Caraga region have become more equipped with the right knowledge and skills in the political arena. They are now empowered that they get involved in good governance and transparency,” she said.
She further emphasized that they continue to closely collaborate with the COMELEC including the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the IP sector is also safe and secure during the election process. (JPG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
