THE Commission on Elections-Cordillera (Comelec-CAR) assured accessible voting precincts to persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women who will cast their votes for the May 13 midterm elections.
Regional director Maria Juana Valeza said Comelec personnel in the region were tasked to manage PWDS, seniors, and the pregnant women who will cast their votes on May 13.
“We have a procedure that we follow and we created a special electoral board who will man special polling places for PWDs, senior citizens and pregnant women to have access to the polling places,” Valeza said.
During the last Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan elections, complaints of inaccessibility by PWDs, senior citizens and pregnant women were reported.
“We will make sure that these special polling places will be located at the first floor of a polling precinct and this is very clear in our rules that accessible polling centers should be situated in a first floor of a building and that they should be given priority,” Valeza said.
Meanwhile, Valeza called on the public to vote wisely according to their conscience during the coming midterm elections, and not to give in to the influence of money, and not to be intimidated with violence.
“To our candidates, please follow the rules and campaign responsively. And to their supporters, please guide them. To our partners, with your help we assure you of our unreserved commitment to be there for you and we want to thank you for your unfaltering dedication to discharge your electoral duties this election,” Valeza added.
Close to 6,000 security personnel of the Police Regional Office Cordillera will be deployed in various areas of the region aside from members coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and additional support forces who will be on standby if the need arises.