Negros Occidental policemen will also be trained as Electoral Board members as part of the Commission on Elections contingency plan, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Monday, Feb. 10
The PNP members will be included in the Electoral Board in case there are teachers affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest who fail to serve during Election Day, he said.
Ananoria added that their contingency plan for Alert Level 3 is already in place. Alternative contingency polling places have been identified, he said.
If Alert Level 4 is raised the COMELEC intends to bring the election to the affected voters, Ananoria also said.
Meanwhile, the peace covenant signing on the Negros Occidental provincial candidates will be held at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Command headquarters in Bacolod City 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 13, and a unity walk will be held on February 20.
These are being held to gain commitments for a peaceful election, Ananoria said.
The Provincial Joint Security Control Center is scheduled to meet on February 18 to deliberate on the categorization of areas of concern in Negros Occidental.
The national COMELEC office categorized Isabela and San Enrique in the yellow category and Calatrava, Cauayan and Sipalay in the orange category.
However, the Negros Occidental police sees all areas as green or peaceful, Ananoria said.
“We will come up on a common stand on the matter,” he said.*