PNP, AFP, COMELEC and DepEd collaborate with DACS ECHAMP

Officers from the Regional Office XI of Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Education, and Commission on Elections together with the volunteers of the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) E-CHAMP (Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful Elections) convened last  April 29, 2016 at the new Ateneo de Davao University building  and discussed final plans and preparations for the upcoming national and local elections.

DACS- ECHAMP has already 4,992 number of volunteers coming from different places in the Region XI, which according to Fr. Kim Lachica, SJ, is a serious number. Thus, they collaborated with government agencies that will help them to assure the safety of the volunteers and the success of the elections. Present among the officers are Atty. Danilo Cullo, COMELEC First District Officer for Davao City; Dr. Warlito Hua, Department of Education Support and Service Division Region XI; Col. Benjamin Tiangco, 28th Infantry Battalion Commander with Col. Geore Joel Lalaquil; and Pol. Supt. Marvin Pepito of PNP Region XI.

The officers addressed the key issues about the upcoming polls especially here in Davao Region. They gave the assurance that the volunteers and all those who will work for the elections are safe and secure since they will be delegating policemen who will attend to the needs of the volunteers and even the voters themselves. COMELEC Election Officer, Atty. Cullo also gave final reminders and instructions to the volunteers. He emphasized that volunteers must stick to their roles and approach the right persons who can address their concerns and complains that will arise on May 9, 2016.

A celebration of the Holy Mass concluded the conference wherein hundreds of volunteers for Davao City alone attended and were sent forth by His Excellency Archbishop Romulo Valles, DD the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Davao. The Archbishop expressed his gratitude to the volunteers and the government organizations who will work for the election and reminded them that this civic task of the people is also the responsibility and work of the church.