Comelec-NIR Ready for Polls Despite Kanlaon Threat

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Two days before the May 12 elections, the Commission on Elections–Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) assured the public that it is ready for the midterm polls despite the threat posed by Kanlaon Volcano.

“The assurance to conduct the election is high,” said Comelec-NIR Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute, adding that they have completed the necessary testing of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) deployed in polling centers and evacuation sites.

Macute held a coordination meeting Friday with Army 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson and Police Regional Office–NIR officer-in-charge Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay at the temporary PRO-NIR office inside the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr., Barangay Estefania.

In a media interview, Macute said elections will proceed in the region, including in local government units (LGUs) affected by Kanlaon, unless the volcano erupts.

“Huwag naman sanang pumutok on the election day,” he added.

“If it erupts on the election day, most probably there will be a postponement of the elections,” Macute said, noting that there would be insufficient time to evacuate those within the volcano’s wide danger zone.

He stressed that it would be humanly impossible to hold the election on the same day if an eruption occurs.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a weak ash emission from Kanlaon’s summit crater at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 that lasted five minutes and generated grayish plumes rising 200 meters above the crater before drifting northwest over Biak-na-Bato in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3.

Macute said contingency plans are in place in coordination with affected LGUs to ensure the transport of displaced voters.

He emphasized that natural calamities such as the volcano’s threat are now a bigger concern than man-made issues like insurgency.

“It’s beyond our control,” he added.

He said the police and military are prepared to respond to emergencies and cited their continued efforts to suppress lawless elements in the region.

Samson said they are ready to deploy additional troops and send reinforcements from Panay Island to NIR for humanitarian support if the volcano worsens the situation on election day.

Ibay added that police units are also ready to assist in rescue and evacuation operations.

More than 7,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) housed in evacuation centers across four LGUs are registered voters who must be transported to cast their ballots on May 12.

Alternative polling centers have been identified to ensure the elections proceed smoothly.