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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider 5,000 Kanlaon evacuees to vote on May 12

5,000 Kanlaon evacuees to vote on May 12

Published May 7, 2025 02:49 pm
BACOLOD CITY – Almost 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from three Kanlaon Volcano-hit local government units (LGUs) will be transported from evacuation centers to polling centers to vote on May 12.
Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Regional Director Donato Sermeno III said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide the vehicles for transportation.
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental holds a simultaneous final testing and sealing of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) in La Carlota City on Wednesday, May 7, to ensure the readiness of equipment for the May 12 mid-term elections. (Photo via Comelec-Negros Occidental)
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental holds a simultaneous final testing and sealing of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) in La Carlota City on Wednesday, May 7, to ensure the readiness of equipment for the May 12 mid-term elections. (Photo via Comelec-Negros Occidental)
Based on the contingency plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), 4,936 IDP-voters from eight barangays are affected and will be brought to their designated voting centers – 2,102 voters from Barangay Ilijan in Bago City; 718 from Barangays Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota City; and 2,116 from Barangays Biak-na-Bato, Cabagnaan, Mansalanao, Masulog, and Sag-ang in La Castellana town.
Sermeno said that there are IDPs who will be transported from the evacuation centers back to their barangays in La Carlota City because the polling centers are not within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Kanlaon Volcano.
He also said that since Barangay Cabagnaan in La Castellana is within the six-kilometer danger zone, a makeshift polling center has been set up in Barangay Poblacion.
LGUs may also provide vehicles marked with Commission on Elections (Comelec) banners and signages to ensure safe transport, according to Sermeno.
The Comelec had earlier said that the elections in Kanlaon-affected areas in NIR will proceed amid the threat of the volcano.
Alternative voting centers for displaced voters under Alert Level 3 and 4 have been identified.
Sermeno said that authorities are checking to ensure there are no remaining issues ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, the Comelec has delivered official ballots to the City and Municipal Treasurer’s Offices across Negros Occidental on Tuesday, May 6, according to Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria.
Ananoria said the ballots have already been sorted and loaded onto trucks for efficient dispatch to city and municipal halls.
Upon arrival, local election officers will verify the ballots based on initial counts, he added.
Political parties and their watchers have been informed and invited to witness the delivery and inspection of ballots and election paraphernalia.
“It’s best if all political parties are present to observe,” Ananoria noted.
Automated counting machines (ACMs) have been distributed to voting centers, with final testing and sealing scheduled on Wednesday, May 7 to ensure they are functioning accurately.
Ananoria also said that ballots will be distributed to clustered precincts on Election Day, unless an earlier release is authorized.
He assured that the election security plan is fully in place.
The province has two million registered voters across 601 barangays in 19 municipalities and 13 cities. It has a total of 2,484 clustered precincts, including Bacolod City.

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