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Thursday, July 11, 2002
Floods may hamper brgy, SK polls
By Joshua Dancel
TYPHOON or no typhoon, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Thursday assured the July 15 voting exercise would push through but not for those areas soaked with floodwaters.
Acting Comelec Chairman Rufino Javier said that if there are unreachable polling precincts due to floodwaters then "we may have to postpone the election. Otherwise, we will push through with the synchronized elections as scheduled," Javier said.
He said they already have contingency plans laid down to counter the threatening weather disturbances.
Among them was the setting up of tents in "dry" areas near flooded official polling precincts and to replace schools now used as evacuation centers.
The Comelec is also thinking of renting "spots" in the market places to become polling precincts.
Javier reiterated unless the entire town is under water, making it impossible to allow a larger number of residents to cast their votes, "that's the time we will postpone."
"Our eyes are set on Valenzuela, Malabon, and Navotas here in Metro Manila. We hope the flood waters in these areas would soon recede," he said.
Meanwhile, Javier also turned over to the Department Education the amount of P461 million to distribute it to some 550,000 teachers who will man the Barangay and Sangunihang Kabataan polls on Monday.
Javier said teachers could now get the money on election day.
DepEd Undersecretary Ernesto Pangan, who received the check, said the money would be distributed immediately all over the country to ensure teachers would get P800 on July 15, and July 16 the latest.
"When teachers get their election materials, they would also get their pay automatically from their respective principals. All they have to do is sign for it," Pangan said.
Both Javier and Pangan said they would petition the President to declare July 16 a holiday for the teachers and call off classes. "I think the teachers deserve to rest the following day after the elections," Javier said. |
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