Survey results from the June 2021 Ulat ng Bayan conducted by Pulse Asia showed that at least 46 percent of Filipino voters are not inclined to participate in the 2022 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was cited by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in yesterday’s blended press conference with Negros media.
Senator Zubiri expressed his alarm about the survey results, as he pointed out that elected officials in next year elections may not get the majority votes of the Filipino people.
Zubiri revealed that 46 percent of respondents in the survey said that they will not vote, if COVID-19 cases remain high in their respective areas, while 35 percent responded in affirmative, and 19 percent undecided.
“Hindi po natin sila masisisi kung ganun ang kanilang pangamba at posisyon. Mas mahalaga naman po talaga ang buhay kaysa sa pagboto,” Zubiri said.
As one of the principal authors of Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Law, Zubiri said that 15 percent of the 77 million Filipinos, have already been vaccinated as of Aug. 12, with 12 million fully vaccinated, while 14.1 million received their first dose.
With 142 days left, starting Aug. 12 to Dec. 31, Zubiri said there should be 450, 704 individuals vaccinated a day to achieve the targeted herd immunity of 77 million.
“My fear is that if we are unable to meet our target by the end of the year, this does not only pose a bigger threat to the health, safety and lives of our people, and our economy, but also to our electoral system,” he said.
“Hindi po natin nanaisin na mahalal sa ganyang kababa na voters turnout. Mahalaga po na ang magiging resulta ng eleksyon sa susunod na taon ay reflective of the true wishes of the electorate. Kung ano talaga ang pasya ng nakararaming botante, for it to become a credible election,” Zubiri said.
In case the pandemic persists until 2022, the senator raised possible solutions to ensure the safe and effective conduct of the elections.
“The COMELEC should address the administrative problems and ensure that proper health protocols in the election sites are in place through issuance of resolutions, or by the passage of a law extending the period of election beyond one day to avoid over-crowding the polling precincts,” Zubiri said.
“But the most important,” he insisted, “is vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.”
Vaccination is the key to economic recovery, Zubiri stressed. – GB
