PAGALUNGAN, Maguindanao del Sur (MindaNews / 14 December)—They are considered as the marginalized and most disenfranchised sector during election times, and in most cases, they have the least access to government services.
But this time, the persons with disabilities (PWDs) were among the first to have been given voters’ education in preparation to the elections for the first Bangsamoro Parliament in 2025.
On Tuesday, the PWDs comprised most of the participants who attended the voters’ education campaign in this municipality, hearing lectures about the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
Among the participants was 52-year-old shoe repairman and barber, Gian Macacua, who lost his leg in a war a few years ago.
He said it was “a very noble effort” in including the PWDs and empowering them for the upcoming elections.
For Gian, life must go on as he is obliged to feed and raise his five children.
“We are so glad we are given priority to learn the differences between the usual elections and the election for the BARMM Parliament,” said Rohaina Samad, a sari-sari store vendor from Pikit, Cotabato and mother of one child. She has disability in her left eye.
The voters’ education initiative is led by the Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress Inc. (MOSEP) with the support of The Asia Foundation, UK Government and the Bangsamoro Government.
Mariam Ali, program manager of MOSEP, noted that the PWDs are “the usual victims of disenfranchisement” during elections as there is very little support for their access to polling places.
She said they are asking the Bangsamoro Electoral Office if they can implement emergency access to polling places for PWDs in the upcoming elections.
“The outcome of this election in BARMM would be an attempt to let the national government to look into the possibility of Federalism,” said Misuari Abdullah, program manager at The Asia Foundation.
He said it is also the time for the majority of Filipinos to understand how parliamentary elections work compared to the usual local and national elections.
A total of 80 seats will be contested in the 2025 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
Half of the seats, or 40, shall be representatives of political parties elected through a system of proportional representation, and 40 percent (32 seats) shall be elected from single member districts.
The Bangsamoro parliamentary districts, which are independent from the congressional districts, are yet to be constituted.
The remaining eight seats are for sectoral representatives—two for non-Moro indigenous peoples, two for settler communities, one each for women, youth, traditional leaders and Ulama. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)