Good voters’ turnout in CDO, says NAMFREL by Wilmer Jane G. Baguio
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Voters turnout already reached 60 percent after 1:00 p.m. on elections day in Cagayan de Oro City.
In an interview with NAMFREL Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City chapter revealed that people really came to the polling precincts to vote. Marlon Libot of NAMFREL Clean Inc. said that by 1:00 p.m., more than half of the voters in the city have already casted their votes. He also shared that COMELEC had come up with good innovation for this year’s election. Among them is the putting up of waiting areas at polling precincts. He said this allowed people to have a place to sit while waiting for their turn to vote and emphasizing to prioritize the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women. Further, the opening of the actual voting process started on time at 6:00 a.m., the latest they recorded was at 6:15 a.m. There were also enough IEC materials for voters to read such as how to shade properly the oval of the chosen candidate. Meanwhile, Libot said that the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were able to guide, assist and explain the process of voting. One of the delays in the election was the technical glitches of the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs). He said that although the government is trying to upgrade its technology, there will always be cases such as overheating, ejection of ballots and all other errors since it is technology driven. Despite
the glitches, COMELEC were able to manage the situation, he said. Meanwhile, according to Nestor Banuag Jr., chairperson of NAMFREL Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental chapter, they are focused on the three stages of election processes such as the opening of VCMs, voting proper, and the transmission and closing of the VCMs. According to him, their volunteers are spread out to 40 out of 61 voting centers in the city to make sure that the conduct of election is clean and fair. Banuag said that they make sure their reports from the polling precincts are validated. One of the observations they made include BEIs not being technical enough to handle the VCMs in case there were problems. On the other hand, Francesco Labuntog, NAMFREL co-chairperson and first time voter said that voting in the precinct is easy however the usual delay starts from confusion of the precinct number and where to locate them. He said that it was a good thing that other organizations such as PPCRV were also there to help.
VCMs safely delivered to polling places by Lorry V. Gabule
ILIGAN CITY – Vote-counting machines were all delivered at the respective polling centers in the province of Lanao del Norte and in the city of Iligan. Lawyer Carlito L. Ravelo, provincial election supervisor, said that the last VCMs delivered were 9:00 a.m., May 9, in Munai town. However, Atty. Ravelo said there was a commotion when supporters of mayoralty aspirant Dante Batinggolo of Liberal Party blocked the transfer of VCMs from Munai town hall to different voting centers, May 8. The group refused to accept the situations where police will be serving as special board of election inspectors (SBEIs). Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion has finally got Batinggolo’s supporters to allow the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to deliver VCMs, conduct the final testing and sealing, which was done on May 9, before the elections started. While City Election Officer Ramil P. Acol said that no untoward incidence occurred during the delivery of VCMs in Iligan city. In a report submitted for the consolidated project of precincts by district, the Lone Legislative District of Iligan with 44 barangays has a total of 165,330 registered voters, with 245 clustered precincts, out of the 1,037 established precincts, having
45 voting centers. The First (1st) Legislative District of Lanao del Norte, having 11 towns has 153,987 registered voters from 184 barangays, with 292 clustered precincts, to around 152 voting centers. For the Second (2nd) Legislative District, composed of 11 towns, has a total of 170,119 registered voters from 278 barangays, with 369 clustered precincts, and having 215 voting centers. The municipality of Lala of the second District has 40,522 registered voters, as the highest among the 22 towns, followed by Kapatagan (2nd Dist) having 28,967 registered voters, and the municipality of Tubod (1st Dist) to have 25,493 registered voters. Matungao town (1st Dist) to have the least registered voters of 6,742 only.
140 farmers equip on agri technology CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – About 140 farmers in 11 barangays of Cagayan de Oro city participated in the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program through the City Agriculture and Productivity Office (APO) on May 3. The program aims to develop the sources of income of the farmers with the support of SM Foundation, Department of Agriculture, Harbest Agribusiness Corp. and APO. The farmers’ produce include watermelon, bitter gourd, white squash, string beans and eggplant. The program was implemented on February 2 when farmers learned about technology transfer. According to Dr. Hector San
Juan, city agriculturist, the farmers undergone a one-month technology transfer seminar as well as planting of high value crops that commenced on May 3 including the harvest period of their produce. San Juan also added that SM Food Group will purchase the farmers’ produce and such are sold at SM Supermarket, Hypermarket, Savemore and SM Malls.(ACM-CIO)