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The Ateneo de Naga University continues its effort in striving for fair May 2010 National Elections. The university has participated in and organized three (3) pertinent activities since January.
PVA 2010 Edition
Representatives composed of Faculty, Staff, and a student attended the Pinoy Voters Academy 2010 Edition: Ang Bagong Botanteng Pinoy (BBP) Voters Education held last 23 January 2010 at the Cardinal Sin Center, Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University.
Facilitated by the Simbahang Lingkod Bayan, the PVA 2010 Edition is a political education program that shifts the focus from the candidate to the voter. The program consists of four (4) modules which tackle current issues (through a presentation of situationers), voters' rights, the latest voting process (regarding the introduction of the automated elections), and continuing political engagement.
BACS and the PPCRV
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) had an agreement with the Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) last year in drawing commitments from the regional associations such as the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) to work with the PPCRV in forming engaged citizenship in the May 2010 Elections

In this agreement, the association was asked to recruit students, faculty, and staff who were willing to undergo technical training and form a Technical Assistance Group (TAG) of poll watchers in Bicol.
Last 23 February 2010, thirteen (13) BACS representatives (most of which were from Student Affairs) went to the Ateneo de Naga University for a meeting pertinent to the agreement. Rene Gumba, Director of the Institute of Politics, facilitated the discussion.
USIC-CSPEAI Holds Voter’s Ed
The University Social Involvement Council - Committee on Socio-Political Education, Advocacy and Involvement (USIC-CSPEAI) held a voter’s education entitled Safeguarding 2010: Understanding the Changes in the Philippine Electoral Process last 1 March 2010 from 4-6 pm at the University Gymnasium.
USIC Director and CSPEAI Chairperson Atty. Mila-Raquid Arroyo formally began the program proper with her welcome remarks and statement of the event’s objectives.
The resource person was election officer Alex Marpuri of COMELEC Camarines Sur. Marpuri presented and discussed key issues of the May 2010 Automated Elections such as the security features of the Official ballot and the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine, the process of transmitting election returns and crucial reminders for voters and poll watchers before, during and after the casting of votes.
He further expound that a clustered precinct will have 1 PCOS machine hence a thousand voters. Marpuri also emphasized that voters are not required to bring any form of identification unless the Board of Election Inspectors questions his or her identity. He also stressed that voters should personally feed the ballot to the PCOS machine, that there is no need to be anxious because the official ballots can be fed into the machine at any orientation and that one just have to make sure he shades the circles completely. Also a vital point is not to overvote but undervoting is allowed although not encouraged.
Attended by at least 172 participants, the event drew various questions especially from first time voters.
Elmer Abad II of the Social Sciences Department emceed and facilitated the flow of event.
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