Comelec projects 85% voters turn out in CL

CLARK FREEPORT — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is projecting an 85 percent voters turn out in Central Luzon during the mid-term elections on May 13, 2019.

Elmo Duque, Comelec Central Luzon assistant regional director, disclosed this during the monthly News at Hues media forum of the Pampanga Press at Park Inn by Radisson Clark on Tuesday.

Duque said Comelec expects that 85 percent of the 6,829,605 million registered voters in the region will go out and vote during the national elections.

He said the agency based its projection following the trend over the past few elect i ons.

In 2013, some 74 percent of the registered voters in Central Luzon participated in the political exercise and in 2016,

Initiated by the Mother Earth Foundation through the Zero Waste Youth Pilipinas headed by Jann Audrey Manalase, and in support of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the “strike” was participated in by students from schools across the capital city.

Holding placards in a 20-minute silent protest, the participants called for change, environmental awareness, and unity in saving mother earth.

They also offered prayers for the victims of natural calamities disaster.

Santiago, in calling for protection of the environment amid industrial development, reiterated the city government’s agenda on environmental preservation and solid waste management.

“We have always maintained that economic development must go on without sacrificing the environment and the health of Fernandinos. That is why we have our own climate change mitigation plan,” he said.

On involving the youth in the war versus climate change, Santiago stressed that the young and future generations of the city must already be aware of environmental issues.

“They are the future caretakers of the environment and they have always been part of our inclusive programs. As early as now, we are involving them in such awareness campaigns like this ‘climate strike’so they will be responsible for environmental protection after our time,” concluded Santiago.— JTD