OVER three million Filipinos are eligible to cast their ballots for the 2022 national and local elections in Northern Mindanao, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said, today, Oct. 9.
Comelec-10 regional election director lawyer Francisco Pobe said they have recorded 2.8 million voters in region-10 and as of September 2021, 3.1 million voters in the region are already registered.
“In ensuring safety of voters, candidates and staff, minimum public health standards are still strictly imposed by the Comelec,” said Pobe.
Pobe said they coordinated with the other national line agencies like the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), so they can hold an orderly and peaceful various election-related activities.
“Health standards are always to be observed,” said Pobe.
During the CORDS-X Podcast, October 9, Pobe told Communications Sec. and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS)-10 Martin Andanar that they have also a special setup in handling the filing of candidacy including the establishment of a waiting area.
He said they observed proper social distancing, checking of temperature, obtaining identification for tracing, and regular application of alcohol or sanitizers.
They also accommodate only two persons at a time for those who are filing their certificate of candidacy. The rest are asked to wait at the back portion of the office where chairs are provided.
He said that they accommodated various issues on identification records including registration, transfer from abroad or going back to the country, reactivating records, and changing of records in the registration.
As for the vote counting machines (VCMs), there are 97 million VCMs in the country, which are up for refurbishing or upgrade.
He added that the previous ratio was one VCM is to 1,000 voters per pre-clustered precinct but with the new normal, they will accommodate around 500 voters in a pre-clustered precinct.
“Our election is not just your responsibility, not just my responsibility, not just their responsibility, but this is our responsibility,” Pobe stressed.
This means that we have to help one another and we have to consider all the efforts so we can attain the truthful elections, according to Pobe. (Ben Balce with a report from RTP/PIA-10)
