Voters education campaign launched ahead of historic BARMM elections

COTABATO CITY – With the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) set to hold its first-ever parliamentary elections in 2025, PARTICIPATE has launched a new civic and voters education campaign called “Boto Mo Bangsamoro.”

The campaign aims to empower first-time voters and marginalized sectors by educating them on the region’s parliamentary system, representation, and electoral processes as outlined in the Bangsamoro Electoral Code Implementing Rules and Regulations (BEC IRR).

The campaign is particularly focused on ensuring widespread understanding of the unique parliamentary structure in BARMM, which differs from the more familiar presidential system in the rest of the Philippines.

PARTICIPATE, a coalition of civic groups, is prioritizing voter education to make sure every citizen is informed and prepared to cast their vote in this historic election.

Boto Mo Bangsamoro seeks to educate voters in the region, especially those who are new to the voting process and those from marginalized communities. We want to ensure that every voter understands how their vote shapes the parliamentary system in BARMM.

Targeting Remote and Marginalized Communities

One of the key challenges in BARMM is the low internet penetration in the region.

According to a 2019 survey by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), only 4.5% of households in BARMM have internet access. This presents a significant hurdle in reaching voters, especially in remote areas.

To overcome this, the “Boto Mo Bangsamoro” campaign will utilize a variety of channels including social media, local TV and radio stations, and print materials.

These will be distributed widely and translated into local languages to ensure culturally inclusive messaging.

“We are making sure that even those in the most remote areas can access the information they need. Traditional media will play a huge role in this effort,” PARTICIPATE added.

Collaborative Effort

The development and vetting of campaign materials will be overseen by the PARTICIPATE Consortium, which includes key civic organizations such as the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), La Salle Institute of Governance (LSIG), the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO).

The rigorous review process ensures that the educational materials are accurate and resonate with the local population.

This voters education campaign is part of PARTICIPATE’s broader initiatives in preparation for the 2025 BARMM elections.

Other projects include the Academy of Multiparty Democracy in BARMM, dialogues with civil society organizations and media, and leadership trainings for women, all aimed at ensuring a well-informed and prepared electorate.

The “Boto Mo Bangsamoro” campaign will run from September 2024 to May 2025, with the goal of fostering a more informed and engaged voting populace as BARMM transitions into its new parliamentary government.