By JEN BAYLON
The Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) said they will not postpone the conduct of the midterm elections this year in local government units affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s continuing unrest.
“We want to ensure that the elections can continue without interruption, even in the face of natural disasters,” Comelec-NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said.
Residents and evacuees from eruption-affected areas will be able to vote in the May 12 elections, Castillano said, as contingency plans are set in case Kanlaon’s restlessness intensifies.
“The Comelec chairman has approved the idea of transferring voting machines to evacuation centers where evacuees are located,” Castillano said in an interview, emphasizing the need for preparedness to avoid postponements in the elections.
“We don’t want a delay in the proclamation of the National Board of Canvassers for the national candidates,” he added.
He admitted that the ongoing unrest is difficult for both their Comelec personnel and the voter-evacuees.
The Comelec-NIR also visited several local government units in Negros to assess their readiness and ensure effective communication for the polls.
Meanwhile, Castillano noted that the peace and order situation in Negros Occidental is stable for now.
The Regional Joint Security Control Center will be activated on Saturday, January 11, following a meeting with Comelec.
Castillano highlighted that maintaining election integrity is crucial, as delays could impact the proclamation of winning candidates.
Earlier, the Negros Occidental Provincial Joint Security Control Center was mandated to prepare the contingency plan for the midterm elections in coordination with the local disaster offices of the affected local government units.
“It is the local disaster office that knows the situation on the ground,” Castillano said.
The Office of Civil Defense reported that 12,223 families, composed of 46,781 individuals, have been affected by the eruption in Western and Central Visayas.
At least 4,128 families, comprising 13,454 individuals, are temporarily sheltered in 34 evacuation centers, while 2,351 families or 7,458 persons have sought refuge outside these facilities./ JB, WDJ