AMID rumors that the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council elections will again be postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental is already 90 percent prepared for the polls this coming May 14.
Provincial Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez said preparations of local election offices are underway.
They are only waiting for the ballots and accountable forms to arrive, he added.
Suarez also said some of the poll offices have already posted the voters’ lists while some have already started painting and labeling ballot boxes.
He said there are five localities lacking ballot boxes, but it was addressed right away as some local government units have excess ballot boxes.
The excess was transferred to these localities, Suarez added.
He said the Comelec continues to follow its timetable even if there are rumors that the elections will be postponed again, although the National Government has already clarified that the May 14 elections will push through.
Suarez said they already submitted the names of teachers who will volunteer for the elections to the central office.
Calendar of activities
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10246, the filing of certificates of candidacy will be on April 14 to 20 while the campaign period was set on May 4 to 12.
During the nine-day campaign period, making any donation or gift in cash or in kind is prohibited, as well as appointing or using special policemen or confidential agents; construction or maintenance of barangay funded roads and bridges; appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, giving of salary increases, remuneration or privileges, Comelec said.
Campaigning is prohibited on the eve of election day.
The election period will be from April 14 to May 21, during which the poll body prohibits the alteration of precincts or establishment of new precincts; carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons; use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates; transfer of officers and employees in the civil service; and suspension of any elective local officials, the resolution said.
On election day, the casting of votes in polling precincts will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.