AT LEAST 17 government financial institutions (GFI), other government agencies (GA) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) have reportedly placed all their crafts and vehicles at the poll body’s disposal.
Lawyer Renato A. Magbutay, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Northern Mindanao director, said these crafts and vehicles include the land, air and water craft such as airplanes and helicopters, trucks, jeeps, vans, cars, ships, barges and speedboats and communication facilities that include printing machines of the National Printing Office (NPO).
Magbutay said the crafts and vehicles will be used to ferry Comelec personnel and its deputized agencies in the performance of their election duties and or transport election forms, supplies and materials to their places of destination, particularly in areas without regular means or with inadequate transportation.
Among the GFIs, GAs, GOCCs that are included in the Comelec deputation list are Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Other agencies include the National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, National Electrification Administration, Philippine Ports Authority and the Commission on Population.
Magbutay said the GFIs, GAs and GOCC will provide the Comelec with a list of available crafts and vehicles, together with the pilots or captains, shipmasters or drivers assigned to the crafts or vehicles. (PIA)