By JEN BAYLON

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia will visit Bacolod City today, May 1, to finalize a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), aimed at establishing alternative voting centers for areas affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

Negros Occidental provincial election supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria yesterday confirmed Garcia’s visit, stating the agreement seeks to safeguard voter access during emergencies.

Before arriving in Bacolod, Garcia will inspect voting facilities in La Carlota to assess contingency plans.

The agreement with OCD marks a proactive step to address potential calamities, ensuring compliance with Comelec’s mandate to uphold accessible and secure elections.

Additional details on the MOA’s implementation are expected after the signing.

The MOA underscores Comelec’s collaboration with disaster response agencies to mitigate election disruptions, particularly in volcanic hazard zones.

This is part of the poll body’s preparations for the May 12 midterm elections, which include deploying ballots nationwide in April.

The Comelec has completed printing 68.5 million ballots and has begun distributing them to cities and municipalities.

Garcia has emphasized readiness, including using satellite-based internet in areas with weak telecommunication signals to ensure smooth transmission of election results./JB, WDJ