The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured the people of Negros Occidental that the May 12 midterm elections must not be affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
In an ambush interview in La Carlota City on Thursday, May 1, Comelec chairman George Garcia told reporters that every registered voter in the province should be able to vote.
“Ang atin pong ambisyon at all costs, walang failure of election, walang postponement of election, wala po tayong idedeklara na resetting ng election. Dapat at all cost lahat makaboto sa Mayo 12,” Garcia told reporters.
The poll body conducted a voter education program for more than 200 evacuees at the La Carlota South Elementary School II.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco led the information drive that allowed people to test automated counting machines (ACMs).
One of the evacuees who tried to vote was Arsenia dela Cruz, 62 years old.
Her family has been staying there for more than four months since Kanlaon erupted in December 2024.
“Nag-evacuate kami nang pumutok ‘yung bulkang Kanlaon … Almost four months na, wala kaming magawa kasi palagi naman siyang bumubuga ng abo, so mahirap sa amin,” Dela Cruz told ABS-CBN News.
Dela Cruz said she was able to follow all the instructions given by the poll body.
“Hindi mahirap maglagay sa makina, saka hindi mahirap mag-shade kasi malinaw na malinaw,” Dela Cruz added.
According to Comelec in La Carlota, there are 35 clustered precincts in the city.
Garcia said registered voters still have to vote in their regular polling precincts on election day except for those affected by the Kanlaon eruption.
“Boboto sila sa mismong barangay sa mismong eskwelahan kung saan naka-assign, except yung mga nasalanta ng pagputok ng bulkan,” Garcia explained.
In case the situation in Kanlaon escalates to Alert Level 4, Garcia said about 75,771 registered voters will be affected.
Meanwhile, the Comelec has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Office of Civil Defense, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and other election stakeholders.
Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said contingency plans are in place for the midterm polls especially in worst-case scenarios that may be caused by the Kanlaon volcanic eruption.
“Meron nang executive order, we have logistical requirements … Ang kulang na lang natin sa ngayon ‘yung long-term solutions na pinapagawa ni Presidente na magkaroon tayo ng permanent evacuation centers,” Nepomuceno said. (ABS-CBN News)