Comelec-7 declares Region 7 is 95 percent ready for May 12 polls

Local

MACHINES have been checked, security has been tightened, and final testing is the last piece of the puzzle.

With this, the Commission on Elections-Central Visayas (Comelec-7) declared that the region is already 95 percent ready for the midterm elections.

Comelec-7 Director Francisco Pobe said the region has nearly completed preparations for the May 12 votings, with final testing and sealing of vote-counting machines in Cebu and Bohol set for Wednesday, May 7.

He said that more than 5,400 clustered precincts across the region, including 4,012 in Cebu and 1,500 in Bohol, have been assigned Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), with over 200 spare units on standby.

Ballots are expected to arrive late evening on May 11 or early morning of election day, and security forces have finalized their deployment plans after the last Regional Joint Security Control Center meeting.

Cebu Province, including highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, accounts for more than 3.4 million registered voters spread across 4,120 clustered precincts, while Bohol follows with 981,564 voters assigned to 1,542 precincts in Central Visayas.

In Cebu City, all 900 ACMs are already on site at City Hall’s Social Hall, ready for deployment to 73 voting centers that will cater to over 666,000 voters.

Ferdinand Gujilde, election officer for the South District, said coordination with security forces and logistics teams is complete, and the machines will be moved to the ground floor of City Hall starting Tuesday night.

In the North, election officer Ambongan Abilar confirmed all machines, including those for Persons Deprived of Liberty, have arrived and are ready for the FTS on May 7 at 9 a.m.

To secure the machines, Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office, said police presence has been constant at the Social Hall, with K9 units deployed and a 24/7 security plan in place until testing day.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education-Central Visayas will activate its Election Task Force on May 12 to support teachers and poll workers. A 24/7 Help Desk will also be open from May 11 to 13.

The Department of Energy Visayas Field Office has also assured stable power supply during the elections, with a task force command center set to operate a day before the polls.(MyTVCebu)