• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Residents of La Castellana, Negros Occidental would still have to cast their votes during the May 12 elections in the town polling centers, even if Alert Level 4 would be declared.
This was emphasized by Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, saying that allowing affected residents to vote in the town, whatever the circumstances, was included in the contingency plan submitted by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, which has already been approved by the Incident Management Team and the Commission on Elections.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted at Kanlaon Volcano.
Wherever they will be evacuated, the voting would still be in La Castellana, the mayor said on Friday.
Comelec Negros Island Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said the contingency plan of La Castellana includes the setting up of polling centers in areas outside of the 10-kilometer permanent danger zone.
A total of 1,362 families, composed of 4,244 persons, are presently staying inside and outside of evacuation centers in La Castellana since the volcanic eruption on Dec. 9.
The 1,362 families, who are residing within the six-kilometer danger zone, are prohibited to return to their respective residences unless the alert level is lowered by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. | GB
