Page 7 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine 01 June 2022 - Final (4)

BARRIER FREE SOCIETY
Being Political! Being Visible!

Fritz Enjhay
O. Cepe

uring the Last Election in 2019, I was slightly provide a comfortable voting station for PWDs.
disappointed as I exercised my right to vote Moreover, the database system of PWDs should
Dbecause unexpectedly, the assigned polling be evaluated and serve as a basis for the COMELEC
station for me was located in an inaccessible area to classify the different forms of PWDs who have
with no ramp. This caused me difficulty to move the right to vote and for early designation or
and manoeuvre my wheelchair. With what I have assignment of the appropriate voting area/rooms
experienced, I must say that most precinct stations for the PWDs sector. Proper training of COMELEC
used here in our town have poor accessibility Personnel and volunteers should be conducted on
facilities for PWDs, considering that schools are proper handling and management of PWDs during
mostly being used. times of election casting.

It has been observed that most schools here Another sphere of participation in political and
in our municipality are not yet properly equipped public life is being involved in a non-governmental
with adequate PWDs-friendly facilities, and are organization. Currently, I am one of the
not yet compliant with the required facilities. members of Assossasyon ng may Kapansanan sa
Despite this, COMELEC Volunteers were sensitive Municipalidad ng San Jose de Buenavista Antique
enough to consider my condition and assisted me (AKMA) and a representative of Cerebral Palsy
to relocate my voting station to ensure a more here in the Province of Antique. Previously, I held a
convenient and comfortable place for me to position as a Vice President of our Association and
exercise my right to suffrage. treasurer in the Association of Differently-Abled
Person, Inc. Antique.
Some stakeholders are aware of how to handle
PWDs during the Election Period. But some are I was also a former contractual job work
not. Thus, as an advocate person for disability employee in the Persons with Disability Affairs
rights, I have to ensure that information, advocacy Office of the Provincial Government of Antique
and education campaigns for PWDs needs and under the supervision of the PSWDO, and currently
logistics should be properly implemented and one of their consultants on Advocacy Disability
institutionalized. It is also imperative to promote a Rights and facilitator on the Community Based
PWDs-friendly environment during election time Inclusive and Development Program. Besides
to ensure a higher percentage of participation that, I am a member of the Rotary Club of Antique
in exercising the right to vote amongst PWDs. District 3850 and am designated as an IT Specialist.
Likewise, there is a need to conduct a Disability
Equality Training for all stakeholders and other My Involvement in non-government
people concerned. organizations and associations is to create public
awareness about the need, aspirations and
In addition, there is a need to further assess abilities of PWDs. This awareness-raising effort was
the status of all COMELEC polling stations, and carried out through my participation as a member,
most specifically, schools, to prepare them for a leader, a facilitator, and an educator by lobbying
the upcoming elections and consideration of local and national government agencies. I was
appropriate budget to completely address and also involved in publishing a newsletter, speaking

Vol. 01, Issue 1 | June 2022 6