The Search For 4 Million Pesos
One of our projects this summer is the Gabay Halalan, a toll free service for all PLDT subscribers. This is project is part of the VforCE or volunteers for clean elections, which aims to educate the Filipino people through landlines which they can access the basic information about thier candidates and for them to have an educated vote.
One of the services we also wanted to give is the voters precinct number. In order to do that, we need to have the voters list. I have known one COMELEC official, whom I have met in TV appearance last April 28 (naks!) and he promised me to give the entire voters list of the country. He told me just to bring cds so that i can copy the whole file (i even bought with me cd burner and 10 cd's to be sure) and sure enough it was a large file.
I arranged a meeting with him (he is the director for operations of the entire nation) at 3pm. We arrived there at exactly 250pm, went to his office. One of his staff asked me who am I looking for. Then I said the whole story. But the executive director still wasn't there... he had a meeting en banc. And the chairman asked him to be there. And I have to wait. I told his staff about our meeting and the favor I am asking. She went to another staff who I think is in charge of those file. She came back to me, and told me about the file that I was asking.... and this is the most surprising event of my life. In order to have those files, I need to pay 4 MILLION pesos! Whew! I felt that moment my head turned, and feel like throwing up... FOUR MILLION PESOS?!!?! Where the hell will I get that obscene amount? I didn't have that moment 500 pesos in my wallet that moment. There was a COMELEC resolution explaining the process to have the voters list. I asked for the copy of the resolution, but even that I have to pay. I HAVE TO PAY FOR A PUBLIC DOCUMENT that is supposed to be free. I felt that moment walking through that office has a price even... tsk... What a way to have an national elections.
So we went home feeling bad, we didn't get that freakin' list. And to make matters worse, when we got to the parking lot. Our car was towed! Haaayyyy... talk about a lucky day
One of the services we also wanted to give is the voters precinct number. In order to do that, we need to have the voters list. I have known one COMELEC official, whom I have met in TV appearance last April 28 (naks!) and he promised me to give the entire voters list of the country. He told me just to bring cds so that i can copy the whole file (i even bought with me cd burner and 10 cd's to be sure) and sure enough it was a large file.
I arranged a meeting with him (he is the director for operations of the entire nation) at 3pm. We arrived there at exactly 250pm, went to his office. One of his staff asked me who am I looking for. Then I said the whole story. But the executive director still wasn't there... he had a meeting en banc. And the chairman asked him to be there. And I have to wait. I told his staff about our meeting and the favor I am asking. She went to another staff who I think is in charge of those file. She came back to me, and told me about the file that I was asking.... and this is the most surprising event of my life. In order to have those files, I need to pay 4 MILLION pesos! Whew! I felt that moment my head turned, and feel like throwing up... FOUR MILLION PESOS?!!?! Where the hell will I get that obscene amount? I didn't have that moment 500 pesos in my wallet that moment. There was a COMELEC resolution explaining the process to have the voters list. I asked for the copy of the resolution, but even that I have to pay. I HAVE TO PAY FOR A PUBLIC DOCUMENT that is supposed to be free. I felt that moment walking through that office has a price even... tsk... What a way to have an national elections.
So we went home feeling bad, we didn't get that freakin' list. And to make matters worse, when we got to the parking lot. Our car was towed! Haaayyyy... talk about a lucky day
posted by r a i m e n d o z a at 9:32 PM
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