Citizen Media Advocates Launch iWatch, iVote for the 2016 PH Elections

Together with the Philippine Online Chronicles and #juanvote, Blog Watch launched “iWatch, iVote: Citizens Engaging and Watching for a Better Philippines,” on September 24, Thursday, eight months before the 2016 Philippine presidential elections. This initiative is aimed at empowering voters through social media. It strives to encourage Filipino netizens to become champions of orderly and peaceful elections by being vigilant and watchful of election-related issues.

Web-based Advocacy

iWatch, iVote seeks to bring together various social media users and citizen media advocates on a platform designed to encourage voters to carefully examine candidates and issues. It aims to help voters in making wise choices. Also, it is an acknowledgment of the role of netizens in current society, especially in the political landscape. Netizens are the ones who quickly propagate news, exposés, and other important information, and it’s only apt that they are given a more significant role in educating and informing voters.

The iWatch, iVote launching event also served as a venue for discussing the growing population of social media users in the Philippines and the use of social media as a way for citizens to demand action and accountability from public officials. Social media has doubtlessly become a major influencer in Philippine society and politics. As such, netizens are being encouraged to be more active in making a difference. iWatch, iVote allows everyone, not just prominent personalities, to play a part in improving the elections.

The event, however, was not completely devoted to 2016 elections issues. It also became a venue for discussing other timely and prominent concerns including the slow Internet speeds in the country, the Freedom of Information bill, the pitiable state of the Philippine public transport system, and the widely disfavored Cybercrime Law of 2012.

A pioneering group

Blog Watch was founded in November 2009 by a small group of bloggers to form a collective effort in spreading information and insights useful to voters. It was slated to be a 6-month foray into voter education, specifically for the 2010 elections. However, it transcended its short-term goals and became a spark that would help kindle and intensify citizen advocacy in the Philippines.

Image Credit: FB BlogWatch.ph