Comelec, OCD partner on disaster plan for May 12 polls

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Amid the ongoing threat of Kanlaon Volcano, the Commission on Elections said the May 12 midterm elections on Negros Island will proceed as scheduled.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said contingency plans are in place to accommodate thousands of registered voters affected by volcanic activity.

Garcia and Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno signed a memorandum of agreement Thursday to boost disaster preparedness efforts for the polls.

The agreement was signed at the Provincial Capitol’s Social Hall, witnessed by Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national coordinator Dr. Arwin Serrano, Comelec Commissioner Maria Norina Tangaro, and Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr.

Comelec data show that 16,991 registered voters in Negros Occidental under Alert Level 3 may be affected.

Murcia has the highest number at 6,871, followed by La Carlota City with 4,279; La Castellana, 2,349; Bago City, 2,102; and Pontevedra, 1,390.

In Negros Oriental, 14,506 voters in Barangays Linothangan, Panubigan, Masulog, and Pula in Canlaon City are within the 10-kilometer danger zone under the same alert level.

If the alert level rises to 4, some 75,771 voters in Negros Occidental and 37,690 in Canlaon City would be affected.

Under the agreement, Comelec and OCD will coordinate on resource mobilization, emergency exit planning, and clustered precinct routing.

An Incident Command Post will also be established during election day to address potential emergencies and ensure a secure voting process.

The agreement includes a provision for Comelec to deputize the OCD in disaster response and security, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It also allows key disaster response personnel to vote early so they can perform duties without compromising election day responsibilities.

This initiative aims to strengthen interagency coordination for safe and disaster-resilient elections in the province.

Before the MOA signing, Garcia and OCD officials visited an evacuation center in La Carlota City to inspect contingency measures and conduct voter education for internally displaced persons.

They also demonstrated the use of automated counting machines for the midterm polls.

Garcia emphasized the importance of preparation and coordination among agencies.

“Walang kwenta ang demokrasya kung may maiiwan na mamamayan na hindi makakaboto,” he said.

He stressed that voting empowers citizens to shape a brighter future.

Nepomuceno said he welcomed the partnership with Comelec to ensure displaced voters can still cast their ballots despite the Kanlaon threat.

“This is one way of ensuring democracy at its best,” he said.

Alternative voting centers in case of volcanic eruption or ashfall have already been identified in Negros Occidental.