NO CERTIFICATE of candidacy (COC) shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or facsimile and COC's not filed with the correct offices shall not be accepted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

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Thus reminds lawyer Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Elections Director (RED) for Northern Mindanao region, who said the COC's must be filed by the candidate personally or by their duly authorized representatives in writing and under oath on regular days from November 20-December 1, 2009, during office hours, except on the last day which shall be until midnight at the following:

* Law Department of Comelec, Manila for those running for President, Vice President and Senators and Office of RED, National Capital Region (NCR) for members of the House of Representatives (HOR) for legislative districts in the NCR.

* Office of the Provincial Election Supervisors (Opes) for members of the HOR of legislative districts in the provinces and for provincial officials and Office of the City/Municipal Election Officers (OCEO / OMEO) concerned for city and municipal officials.

* Office of the City Election Officer (OCEO) concerned designated for the purpose by the RED for members of the HOR for legislative districts in cities outside the NCR, which comprise one or more legislative districts and for City Officials of cities with more than one election officer.

Meanwhile, Magbutay said a candidate may use in the COC that name by which he/she has been baptized, unless he/she has officially changed his/her name through a court-approved proceeding.

If the candidate is not baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage can be used in the COC.

However, when there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname, except the incumbent who may continue to use the surname stated in his / her COC when elected.

Persons filing the COC may include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality, provided that no candidate shall use the nickname, stage name or initials of another and that titles, such as Don, Datu, Doctor or Ginoo or words of similar imports shall not be allowed.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has started surveying all provinces nationwide for power supply, Internet connectivity and mobile phone signals.

This, to ensure that power supply and communication services will not be disrupted during the May 10, 2010 national and local elections, lawyer Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Elections Director of Northern Mindanao, said.

Data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) show that nine (9) electric utilities have served the electricity/power needs and had, in fact, energized a total of 1,870 barangays, of the region's 1,937 potential barangays, as of the second quarter, this year:

* First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (Fibeco) and

* Second Bukidnon Electric Service Coop. (Buseco) in the province of Bukidnon, Camiguin Electric Coop. (Camelco) in Camiguin and Lanao del Norte Electric Coop. (Laneco) in Lanao del Norte.

* Misamis Occidental Electric Coop. (Moelci) I and Moelci II in Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Services Coop. (Moresco) I and Moresco II in Misamis Oriental and the Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) in Cagayan de Oro City.

Meanwhile, data from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) show that a total of 21,588 internet subscribers have been served, during the period, by eleven (11) internet providers in the region: Cable 21, Cruztelco, DC Tech, ICC-Bayantel, Magna Tech, Philcom, Plaseco, PLDT, PT&T, Sotelco and TMSI.

Based on the data of renewal of licenses made at NTC, as of the first half of the year, the region had a total of 517 cell sites owned by the following major telephone companies: Globe Telecom, 237, Smart, 189 and Digtel, 91.

The region had a total of 148,206 equipped land lines, of which, only 71,088 lines have been subscribed or with existing paying subscribers while it also had a total of 1,503 public calling offices (PCO), as of the period. (Sun.Star/PIA)