VforCE: 
 Volunteers for Clean Elections

These coming elections in May 2007 are especially
important. Many of our current political problems, which have
hindered fuller economic development and social justice, especially
for the poor, can be traced to unresolved questions concerning the
conduct of past elections. As a nation, we cannot afford yet another
controversial exercise that further aggravates social distrust and
hopelessness.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
January 28, 2007

We believe that what is at stake in the May 2007 elections is the credibility of our institutions and the viability of our hard-earned democracy. And we cannot let our frustration and distrust drive us away from the political arena. This will only embolden those who disregard the rule of law and undermine our institutions.

We can still reclaim our place in our country's democratic life, by ensuring that the May 2007 elections are honest and credible, and that candidates who have the people's interests at heart get a fair shot at winning.

VforCE, or 1 Million Volunteers for Clean Elections, is a nationwide movement of volunteer individuals and organizations, committed to providing voter education and volunteer training to protect the integrity of the elections, to fighting fraud and violence, and to working for long-term political and social reform.


VForCE is first of all, a call to political engagement in the coming elections, in the face of widespread social distrust among the citizenry not only of the electoral process but of national politics and political actors in general. Instead of withdrawal, it calls for volunteerism and coordinated action especially from Church-based groups, with a particular challenge to energize, organize and mobilize the youth who comprise the huge majority of the voting-age population.

Secondly, it provides a framework that underlines the importance of both defending democratic institutions in the short-term and deepening or reforming them in the long-term. Thus the initiative recognizes that political involvement in the May 2007 elections will only be meaningful if put in the perspective of a longer term project to develop leaders, constituencies and networks for building genuine democracy towards 2010 and beyond.

Thirdly, VForCE presents a menu of options for non-partisan electoral involvement as a way to recruit volunteers, as well as to present visually how different electoral initiatives especially among Church-related and civic organizations can come together in a collaborative and coordinated effort. The project is meant to serve as a portal that opens the way to different options for volunteerism. The different avenues for electoral involvement are classified under two broad headings: political education and election monitoring. Work in public information/ communications and resource generation are also seen as critical support functions.



Details for each option may be perused in the links found below.


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