Quick and smooth voting process for the elderly. Senior citizens of Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City availing of the early voting hours to cast their ballot at Negros Oriental High School. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – Sixty-five-year-old Elgin Gutierrez of Barangay Daro described her voting experience in this year’s elections as “smooth and quick” thanks to the dedicated hours set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for individuals under the priority sector.
Gutierrez noted that the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were accommodating and helpful as she cast her ballot past 5:00 a.m. on May 12, 2025.
“Gi-cater gud ko nila una kay maglisod ko ug lakaw. Daghan nag-aagak nako. Dali rako nahuman ug hapsay ra (ang ako pagboto),” Gutierrez said.
(They helped me very well. They held me as I walked inside the room. The voting process was smooth for me.)
She said she did not encounter any issues with the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) in her polling precinct and it printed the names of the candidates she voted for accurately.
Gutierrez said she first learned about the priority voting schedule online.
“Maayo unta nga ang kanang among gibotaran, ang ilahang gipang-promise, ma-realize jud na,” Gutierrez.
(I hope that the candidates that I voted for would really fulfill their promise.)
Another resident of Barangay Daro, Roberto Descuando, also shared his experience availing of the early voting hours.
He first heard the announcement on the priority voting schedule over the radio.
“Karon pagboto nako karon buntaga murag luwag kaayo (ang presinto) kay mingaw pa man ning mga tawo nga niabot. Okay ra kaayo ako pagboto. Dali ra kaayo akong pagboto kauban ang ako asawa. Niari mi og sayo para dali mi mahuman,” Descuando said.
(The polling precinct was less crowded because people are just starting to arrive at this hour. My voting experience together with my wife was okay. It was smooth. We came here so we can cast our votes early.)
He said the ACM did not reject his ballot and the receipt reflected the names of the candidates he voted for.
“Sa ako pag-(tan-aw) sa machine safety kaayo ang pag-tunol nako sa akong balota. Limpyo ang kaayo ang pagbotar sa atong mga kandidtato,” he added.
Comelec has set the priority voting hours at 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. for individuals who belong to the vulnerable sector, such as the elderly, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.
Negros Oriental High School was the designated polling center for Barangay Daro with 4,000 registered voters, based on records from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) voter’s assistance desk.
The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete lauded the government for this initiative.
“Nalipay ta sa 5:00 sa kadlawon (nga priority voting). Daghan kaayo ni-avail nga senior citizen nagboto gud. Nalipay sila kay dili init. Nalipay sila kay dili pod nagpunsisok. Salamat sa idea na 5:00 sa kadlawon (magsugod ang pagbotar),” Heruela said.
(We are happy about the 5:00 a.m. priority voting. Many senior citizens availed of this because it’s not too hot and crowded in polling precincts. We commend the idea of starting the voting process as early as 5:00 a.m.)
DEB is a church-based organization accredited by Comelec to monitor election proceedings in Negros Oriental. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
