• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is making adjustments in their contingency plans, similar to the move of the local government units (LGUs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, relative to the May 12 national and local elections.
Comelec-Negros Island Region (NIR) director Lionel Marco Castillano said yesterday he discussed the concerns should Alert Level 4 be raised, during the meeting with the election supervisors and officers of the region on Wednesday.
He noted that they are bracing for the transfer of voting centers, election offices, ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia, to areas where the evacuees are staying.
At present, there are 1,859 families, composed of 5,825 persons, staying in 15 evacuation centers, based on the Feb. 5 report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He said the Comelec is determined to push through with the election in the affected areas so as not to affect the canvassing of election results for the senatorial and partylist candidates.
Should the alert level be raised to 4, Castillano said the Canlaon City evacuees will be spread out in evacuation centers of six LGUs of Negros Oriental 1st district while the Moises Padilla evacuees will be brought to Guihulngan City.
Not only evacuees will be transported to voting centers, but also voting machines and other election paraphernalia, adding that canvassing areas will also be transferred, he said.
Makeshift polling centers are also being eyed by the Comelec for establishments, Castillano further said.
He also ordered election officers to secure a certification from school principals on the availability of classrooms that can be used as voting centers as the city government of Guihulngan offers their gymnasiums as evacuation centers.
Castillano said there will be no problem if Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Mt. Kanlaon since the evacuees are still within the evacuation centers of their respective LGUs.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas has deployed 200 police personnel for election purposes and disaster-related activities in Negros Oriental.
Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said they are still in the “assessment stage” as to the need for deployment of troops, which also depends on the situation that may arise.
More than 2,500 Army soldiers are deployed in Negros, which is being supervised by the 3ID. | GB
