LENTE 4th and 5th Radio Programs

On April 9 and 16, Legal Network for Truthful Elections Inc (LENTE) organized the fourth and fifth episodes of their radio programs that can be accessed through 702 DZAS-FEBC local radio, Facebook  and YouTube. In the fourth episode,  persons with disabilities representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, older people and urban poor communities highlighted the challenges that individuals with multiple intersectional marginalized identities face in their daily lives and during the elections. For example, Patrick Silver Padao, a Deaf LGBTQI+ person, faced difficulty in accessing education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Meanwhile, SR Salve Basiano, an older person with  a disability, shared that his community faces challenges with potentially losing their jobs and sources of income when they get older. They also face medical challenges such as the inability to buy medicine and healthy food due to the lack of economic resources and support. The fifth episode centered on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolutions No. 10761, issued on February 9, 2022, which provides general instructions on voting for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and pregnant voters in emergency accessible polling places.  LENTE and COMELEC representatives discussed the latest interventions to help persons with disabilities in this recent resolution and recognized the need to raise awareness among voters with disabilities to be more aware of their rights concerning using emergency accessible polling sites and assistance during election day.