The civic group Movement for Good Governance (MGG) has come up with a new way of empowering voters through a unique method of voter education.

Using a system practiced in many big companies and institutions, it will conduct forums and give out surveys where participants will score candidates based on a criteria.

The group believes that the 2010 elections will be the start of a new government whose elected officials were chosen based on their qualifications, not their personalities.

Keeping Score

Because elections are a “summation game,” it is important to keep track of aspirants' records, said Quintin Pastrano of the MGG at a Good Governance Summit in Ateneo School of Government (ASG) held last Wednesday.

Antonio La Viña, dean of the ASG and also a member of MGG, said that in the forums they will be conducting from June 2009 to May 2010, the educational background, political track record, and lifestyle of aspirants would be presented to participants.

After the forums, which will also discuss issues like environment, education, agrarian reform, participants would be given score cards so they can rate candidates on whether they are effective, empowering, and ethical.

The presentation of credentials and score cards to voters is designed to equip the voter on how to better assess candidates for public office.

During the launch on Thursday of their 365-day countdown to the May elections, MGG’s Bill Luz told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that different sectors of society would be able to participate in their forums.

Those who would like to volunteer for the MGG can help by disseminating information on candidates or asking their peers to fill out the score cards.

Not the Primaries

The MGG said their objective is totally different from the presidential primaries In the US, where Republicans and Democrats unite to support their party’s candidate. 

“Although small sectors of the society are converging and keeping score, the score cards are just there to gather opinions,” Luz said. “It is not to gravitate towards a unifying candidate for the opposition and the administration." 

La Viña said the score cards are not scientific, but are there to “gather the opinion of reform-minded individuals."

The MGG will ask citizens to rate aspirants using a simple critera: does not meet; meets; exceeds.
 
These three categories are used in human resource evaluations conducted by leading multinational companies, said Pastrano. 

An aspirant who "does not meet" will get one point; an aspirant who "meets" will get two points; an aspirant who "exceeds" will get three points.

These ratings are then shaded on the score cards.

Effective, Empowering and Ethical

In order to assess the qualifications of a candidate, voters will be guided using three E’s--Effective, Empowering, and Ethical.

Indicators of an effective candidate are: comprehensive platform of government, consistent and clear positions on key issues, works hard and is smart, and effectively manages public resources well. It is also good to know whether the candidate has addressed root causes of poverty and social justice.

An empowering candidate is inspiring, a good example for all to follow. He allows stakeholders to engage in decision-making but is not easily swayed by them. 

An ethical candidate possesses God-fearing qualities, has a clean and honest track record, and has proven integrity despite living in a corrupt system. Also, an ethical candidate demonstrates good moral character.

Scores would be added, and the one with the highest score becomes the best qualified candidate.

“This is to stop the trend of voting the least evil,” La Viña said. "2010 is time for the Philippines to vote not only good candidates, but the best candidates."