DESPITE flooded polling precincts, voters still waited and cast their votes at San Vicente Elementary School, Barangay San Vicente, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
Some voters waited for three to four hours just to cast their votes considering the rainy weather resulting in a muddied road.
“Wala koy mabuhat, need nako moboto kay aron masigurado nga modaog akong kandidato (I need to vote just to make sure that my candidate will win),” said Anne Mendoza, a registered voter.
Many voters, wearing closed shoes, boots, or slippers, had to make their way through ankle-high flood to verify and check their designated cluster and polling precincts.
Senior citizens were assisted by poll watchers getting to the voting area to allow them to cast their votes.
On May 9, 2022, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin that an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will deliver moderate to heavy rainfall, with some of them strong, to Caraga and Davao.
According to Pagasa, rain showers will fall in varying degrees of intensity throughout Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and the whole of Mindanao. Flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected under these conditions, particularly in places that are very or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and areas with large antecedent rainfall.
Pagasa advised that the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices take all required precautions to protect life and property.